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Excluding holidays, birthdays are the No. 1 everyday occasion when businesses send greeting cards to customers, according to a national consumer survey recently completed by Hallmark Business Expressions.

Combining a birthday greeting card with an offer is even more effective, with 75 percent of respondents agreeing that a card with a discount during their birthday month would make them more likely to do business with the company.

"Birthdays are a natural opportunity for businesses to reach out to their customers," said Marc Wagenheim, product marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions. "Birthday greeting cards make a lasting impression and encourage repeat business."

Implementing a birthday greeting card program has had great results for the one retail store, Busy Bee in Springfield, Mo. more

High profile trial a bringing business to small community

Peggy Howell is stocking up on pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy and soft drinks.

Howell, who owns the Kountry Cafe with her husband Kenny and mother-in-law Cathy in Clinton, is gearing up for the murder trial of Quincy Omar Cross, which is expected to begin next week.

The trial, expected to last between three and four weeks, will bring attorneys, witnesses, police officers, journalists and the just curious to Clinton, a town of 1,339 in far western Kentucky known mostly for its farming.

Some locals, like Howell, are jumping on the opportunity to make money and show visitors Clinton's charms and tourism appeal.

"It's just a shame it takes a tragedy to bring something like this into our town," Howell said. "We need something. We've lost so many businesses, and it's a great little town."

Cross, 31, is accused of murdering 18-year-old Jessica Currin of Mayfield in July 2000. more

New Medicare reporting requirement expected to boost MEDVAL business

Why should the federal government get stuck paying medical bills that are rightfully somebody else's responsibility?

Medicare has been asking that question a lot these days -- and doing more to stop such payments.

The result has been tightened requirements for insurers and others to report medical liability settlements, which is also helping grow businesses that handle Medicare compliance issues.

Notice of the payouts will help the government save money by making sure settlement funds are available to cover an injured person's medical costs in cases where liability has been determined.

. more

Japan's business sentiment plunges

TOKYO (AP) -- Sentiment among Japanese companies worsened to a record low during the January-March period as high materials prices and a strong yen ate into their profits, a government survey showed Monday.

The dismal results add to the storm clouds surrounding the world's second largest economy, with some analysts saying the Bank of Japan might be forced to ease monetary policy as soon as the first half of this year.

The large company business sentiment index -- which measures the percentage of companies saying that the economy will improve minus those saying it will get worse -- was at minus 9.3 in the first quarter. It was at plus 0.5 in the October-December period last year, according to the survey released by the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet Office. more

Christian business group releases directory in Vero Beach

The 2008 Member Directory for the Vero Beach Christian Business Association Inc. is now available.

The directory contains almost 90 businesses representing more than 50 categories, including automotive service, attorneys, financial services, medical providers and numerous service businesses.

Directories can be picked up at the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, area churches and member businesses.

. more

Latest How To Start A Wood Working Business News

At $2.67, gas costs 70 cents per gallon more than a year ago - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A daily survey by AAA Wisconsin lists the price of regular-grade fuel in the Milwaukee area at $2.67 per gallon. A year ago, it cost $1.97 per gallon. A separate survey by the Web site Milwaukeegasprices.com lists the average price at $2.65 per ...

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Full text of Finance Minister Colin Hansen's budget speech - Vancouver Sun

Today I present Budget 2010 — the next step forward on the road to renewed prosperity for British Columbians. As the Lieutenant‑Governor stated in the Speech from the Throne three weeks ago, this new budget builds on our Olympic momentum and sets ...

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The Restaurant Auteur - All Business

The first time Keith McNally ate in a restaurant, he was 17 years old. He was living with his dockworker father, his mother, and two brothers and a sister in a small prefab home, built as temporary housing in London's crime-ridden, working-class ...

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State's economy suffers as new car sales plummet - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

New vehicle registrations were down 48% in metro Milwaukee last year from the total in 2000 and down 46% statewide, according to industry tracking groups. At the same time, North American vehicle production also collapsed, from a peak of 17.7 million ...

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Cycling, fishing, shooting age in golf part of regimen for Bonita man ... - News-Press

Bonita Springs resident Byron Berry, 91, is aware most people his age don’t have his activity level: playing 18 holes of golf several days a week, shooting his age at times, riding his bike 10-12 miles on days he doesn’t golf. “You usually get ...

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Text of B.C. finance minister Colin Hansen's 2010 budget speech - Georgia Straight

Mr. Speaker: Today I present Budget 2010 — the next step forward on the road to renewed prosperity for British Columbians. As the Lieutenant-Governor stated in the Speech from the Throne three weeks ago, this new budget builds on our Olympic ...

Read more


truesee's Blog - Lottery Post

Cops are hunting for Naomi Campbell after she assaulted her limo driver in Midtown on Tuesday afternoon, police sources said. Wanted: Supermodel with a short fuse. Cops are hunting for Naomi Campbell after she assaulted her limo driver in Midtown on ...

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Local Christian lives up to his name during relief trip to Haiti - Post-Tribune Blogs

Christian Rath, 48, of Living Hope Church in Merrillville, recently embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. Last Thursday, he left for Haiti to take part in a ministry called Builders International. This ministry is very active in building schools ...

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Tabasco: 142 years old and still hot - Yahoo Finance

Dozens of entrepreneurial hot sauce bottles line up on a typical grocery store shelf, but only two or three boast significant market share. Tops among them is Tabasco, which has been made by the McIlhenny Company out of Avery Island, La., since 1868 ...

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Legacy in brick and mortar - Bastrop Daily Enterprise

Herbert H. Land was not an educator in the normal sense of the word, but he is a significant figure in the story of education in northeast Louisiana. Land designed the physical environments in which learning took place. Several generations of ...

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How To Start A Wood Working Business Questions asked

Resolved Question: How would you react in this situation? Say a 40yr old worked very hard all your life you either had a good job?

You started your own business. Things are going well you are making great profits when the economy starts falling apart. You can't find a job that will keep your head above water. Then you get so deep into the red that you are going to lose everything. You know that know one is going to help you, and you never got a helping hand or hand out once in your life. What would you do if you had no one to fall back on, and you where about to lose everything you worked to gain? (Me I would probably go off into the woods somewhere, and build a home isolated from the rest of the world. From there I would grow what I needed, and hunt and fish to live. I wouldn't pay for the materals or the land. I would just build with the resources at hand) more

Resolved Question: Do you think that your too old at 35 to decide you want to be wealthy?

My husband and I are lower middle-class. We both grew up in middle class families. I have grown sick of it. I don't want to live this way anymore. I want to be able to go on vacation, get my nails done, and bu a bigger house. I am sick of floundering around paycheck to paycheck. We are ona budget, but every dollar get's spent. My husband thinks it's too late for us to change it up and get wealthy. He thinks that we'd need money to make money. He thinks that we should already be working on a plan to make it big. He's a wood finisher by trade and though I currently only work pt, I have a MBA. I stay home and homeschool our three kids. I'd like to open a consignment shop, but he points out that we'd need thousands just for the first and last months rent on the building. A few thousand dollars we do not have. Any ideas on how to get ahead? I think he should open his own finishing shop instead of working as a sub-contractor. I really can only own my own business because I need to be able to have the kids with me. Sending them off for other people to raise them is out of the question. So, do you agree with my husband? Are we just too old and poor to turn our financial life around? How do we get the money we need to make money or are there ways to start up with no funds? I'm not looking to make $10 million next year, but I don't think that making $500,000 - 800,000 is that out of the question. If it were, then there wouldn't be so many expensive houses and fancy cars out there, right? That just seems more reasonable to me. Why live if you can't live? Thoughts? more

Resolved Question: Is anybody good at history and wants to help me out pleaseeeeee.?

1. Which of the following triggered the Second Industrial Revolution? (Points: 5) Entrepreneurs figured out how to extract coal much more efficiently. Geologists discovered vast quantities of petroleum in Germany. Innovators figured out how to produce steel cheaply. Engineers developed a much faster steam engine. 2. Why did workers band together to form labor unions? (Points: 5) to improve working conditions to revolt to modernize factories to make employees work more efficiently 3. Which statement is associated with the correct thinker? (Points: 5) Adam Smith – government should control most businesses in a country Karl Marx – all of history has been a struggle between classes of people Robert Owen – a factory owner’s only responsibility to his workers is to pay fair wages Keir Hardie – socialism is a new and revolutionary idea that no one has tried before 4. At the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries, European leaders started to introduce social reforms. Which of the following was not a reform? (Points: 5) the establishment of workhouses guaranteed employment for all working-age people accident insurance for workers injured in the workplace benefits to workers who became unemployed 5. What natural resource contributed significantly to the rapid industrialization of Great Britain and Germany? (Points: 5) gold silver coal wood 6. Which European nation was the largest producer of steel in the early twentieth century? (Points: 5) France Great Britain Germany Spain 7. Use the information in the box and your knowledge to answer the question that follows. Look at the list of characteristics in the box. Which additional characteristic would a nation need before it could become an industrial society? (Points: 5) plenty of housing for the workers a steady supply of electricity natural resources arable land to grow food to feed the people 8. The United States' economy prospered more than European economies after World War I. Which of the following best explains why this was so? (Points: 5) The United States had been spared the physical ruin of war. European nations were mostly Communist or socialist. Labor unions in European nations restricted economic growth. The United States� economy was based on capitalism. 10. Which statement below would an Islamist be most likely to agree with? (Points: 5) All aspects of society�political, legal, economic, social, and cultural�should be guided by strict Muslim teaching. If people of the Muslim world wish to become dominant in international affairs, they must adopt Western culture and values. To improve economic conditions for people in the nations of the Middle East, it is important to promote greater cooperation and understanding with Europeans. Muslim nations should use the Latin alphabet and encourage more education for women. 11. After Turkey gained its independence, its leader took all of the following steps to transform Turkish life except __________. (Points: 5) creating a public education system joining church and state changing the Turkish alphabet to Latin letters giving women new rights 12. Both the Arabs and the Jews were eager to attain their nationalist goals in the twentieth century. Where did the two groups experience the greatest conflict? (Points: 5) Eastern Europe Iraq Palestine Turkey 13. All of the following contributed to the Great Depression except __________. (Points: 5) American companies did less business overseas Germany ignored the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles the value of stocks plummeted and people lost money Europe struggled to recover from World War I 14. What did Adolf Hitler believe about race? (Points: 5) The German nation should be one of many races. Religion is more of a defining force in history than race. The Aryan and Slavic races should rule Europe. Race is the defining force in history. 15. Which of the following is not a shared characteristic of communism and fascism? (Points: 5) The greater good of society is more important than individual liberties. The leaders are often dictators. The governments tend to establish totalitarian control over the people. The governments encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses. 16. From which two classical civilizations did modern Western countries get most of their ideas about the v more

Resolved Question: How do I get to start my own building construction Business?

I was forced to resign from the company I was working for My position at this company was site agent in civils ,My jop discription was to oversee labour gather information on work progress in water pipe lines and sewrage lines then make out a bill of quanties I also gave invert levels taking the reading from a benchmark and transfering the level to a proposed sewrage man hole lots of work concrete an brick chambers, However I have also worked in timber frame houses in the seycheles and the congo in in spain, I hope this brief statment is in detail,This is my question I have a lot of experance in constrution with wood and brick work I feel I am ready to start a small construction business But financaily i dont have the funds to get started Could anyone advise me to get around this problem I thank you all reading this regards NoelHi Lynn Sorry I failed to say where I am from I live here in East London South Africa . I started my career as a carpenter At the same time I went to a technical college to do my NTC levels after that i did a comercail divers couse then i did underwater construction ,last year in november i studied at Damlin and did Fundamentals in project management then did the M S projects m s is what you have learned and plot your work progess on your P C and keep all stakeholders updated I hopr this bit of infomation will give you more insight on what I can do I thank you again for you answer NoelOops sorry I see i Have a few spelling mistakes more

Resolved Question: What do you think of my Personal Statement for Photography? (through UCAS)?

"It is estimated that there are over 7000 different languages spoken and written throughout this planet, resulting in extensive language barriers the world over, however, pictures and photography can be viewed, perceived and understood by everyone, everywhere, which is one of the main things that I love about photography. Photography is most definitely my passion and I have been drawn to it since I was very young when my father would take me to air shows throughout the UK to take pictures of aviation, although I had the camera more than he did - something I have done since I was about 5 years old. It amazes me that by clicking a single button, I am capturing a moment in time forever. I lost my grandfather when I was young, and I noticed that as the time passed, the memories faded as well, which furthered my interest in photography as I wanted to preserve as many memories of people and places as i could. As humans, we blink on average, 60 times a minute, so if only I could never close my eyes, I would have a lot more time to see the beauty around me. To me, my camera is just as vital to my being as food and water is, and taking pictures is my way of being able to continually gaze at a scene, situation, or even person that those blinks take away from me. I believe that artists perceive and study the world around them differently to others. What the majority of people may perceive as a derelict eyesore of a warehouse, I can see the beauty within it. The colours in the rusted pipes and doorknobs, the patterns of the peeling paint on the wood, the beauty of the smashed windows and crumbling walls. Besides photography, I am interested in music, film, nature, fashion, art, youth culture, gender, and human rights. I enjoy reading magazines such as i-D & Dazed and Confused and as most people do, I enjoy browsing the internet - the majority of my time is spent on Flickr, discovering new photographers. I also enjoy going to art galleries, as I love everything from contemporary art to photography, paintings to sculptures. I have always been interested in various types of art which helped me decide to take Art for Standard Grade (where I achieved an A) and again for my Highers, which I am taking this year. I have also had various pieces featured in local art galleries. I have recently signed up to Creative Photography evening classes at my local college, which is SQA certificated, in order to improve my photographic techniques, learn more about studio and lighting set-ups and to work with a diverse group of people, who are all as passionate about photography as myself. I also had my work experience at Ayr College in 2008, where I was working under the Digital Marketing Developer. I really enjoyed my work experience as I enjoyed furthering my Photoshop skills, learning about techniques and settings on my camera, and how to use them properly. I also gained more confidence as I took photographs of many students and staff of the college for local publications, and I learned that I had to be more confident and talkative to work with people who I had never met before - a trait which I have carried with me since my first day at college. Between 2006 and 2009, I worked in a local music venue, The Space Place, as their photographer, taking pictures of the live music nights, and from there, I got to know and work with a lot of different people and became a freelance photographer. I also learned how to cope under tight deadlines for photographs to be chosen, edited and delivered. Due to this regular work, I became quite familiar in the local music scene as 'Linzi Clark Photography'. Some of my favourite photographers include Nan Goldin, Daniele Buetti, and of course, Annie Leibovitz. After graduating from University, I hope to either start my own photography business or work for a magazine, similar to i-D or Dazed and Confused." do you think there is anything I should add, change, or remove? thanks :)thanks KK! :) more

Resolved Question: What do you think of my Personal Statement for Photography? (UCAS)?

"It is estimated that there are over 7000 different languages spoken and written throughout this planet, resulting in extensive language barriers the world over, however, pictures and photography can be viewed, perceived and understood by everyone, everywhere, which is one of the main things that I love about photography. Photography is most definitely my passion and I have been drawn to it since I was very young when my father would take me to air shows throughout the UK to take pictures of aviation, although I had the camera more than he did - something I have done since I was about 5 years old. It amazes me that by clicking a single button, I am capturing a moment in time forever. I lost my grandfather when I was young, and I noticed that as the time passed, the memories faded as well, which furthered my interest in photography as I wanted to preserve as many memories of people and places as i could. As humans, we blink on average, 60 times a minute, so if only I could never close my eyes, I would have a lot more time to see the beauty around me. To me, my camera is just as vital to my being as food and water is, and taking pictures is my way of being able to continually gaze at a scene, situation, or even person that those blinks take away from me. I believe that artists perceive and study the world around them differently to others. What the majority of people may perceive as a derelict eyesore of a warehouse, I can see the beauty within it. The colours in the rusted pipes and doorknobs, the patterns of the peeling paint on the wood, the beauty of the smashed windows and crumbling walls. Besides photography, I am interested in music, film, nature, fashion, art, youth culture, gender, and human rights. I enjoy reading magazines such as i-D & Dazed and Confused and as most people do, I enjoy browsing the internet - the majority of my time is spent on Flickr, discovering new photographers. I also enjoy going to art galleries, as I love everything from contemporary art to photography, paintings to sculptures. I have always been interested in various types of art which helped me decide to take Art for Standard Grade (where I achieved an A) and again for my Highers, which I am taking this year. I have also had various pieces featured in local art galleries. I have recently signed up to Creative Photography evening classes at my local college, which is SQA certificated, in order to improve my photographic techniques, learn more about studio and lighting set-ups and to work with a diverse group of people, who are all as passionate about photography as myself. I also had my work experience at Ayr College in 2008, where I was working under the Digital Marketing Developer. I really enjoyed my work experience as I enjoyed furthering my Photoshop skills, learning about techniques and settings on my camera, and how to use them properly. I also gained more confidence as I took photographs of many students and staff of the college for local publications, and I learned that I had to be more confident and talkative to work with people who I had never met before - a trait which I have carried with me since my first day at college. Between 2006 and 2009, I worked in a local music venue, The Space Place, as their photographer, taking pictures of the live music nights, and from there, I got to know and work with a lot of different people and became a freelance photographer. I also learned how to cope under tight deadlines for photographs to be chosen, edited and delivered. Due to this regular work, I became quite familiar in the local music scene as 'Linzi Clark Photography'. Some of my favourite photographers include Nan Goldin, Daniele Buetti, and of course, Annie Leibovitz. After graduating from University, I hope to either start my own photography business or work for a magazine, similar to i-D or Dazed and Confused." do you think there is anything I should add, change or remove? thanks :) more

Resolved Question: What Happens If A Dog Walker Lost Clients Dog After Dog Bit Him?

I own a dog walking business and had a dog run off on me and am wondering what the ramifications might be. I am bonded & insured, but I wounder if I am still libal after I was bit by the dog that escaped. This was a new client, the family only spoke broken English, so I didn't get as detailed in my pre-screening as I normally do, my first mistake. They were not looking for a regular walk, only help for 1 day with their two dogs. So, I tried to get the essential information about the dogs vaccinations and temperament. They told me everything was up to date and the dogs were well behaved. They did bark at me when I first showed up, many dogs to bark at strangers coming to the house, but calmed down after a minute, though they never came over for me to pet them, I assumed with a few treats I could leash them and walk them with no problem. So, when I showed up at 7AM the day I was to walk them there was already poop in the house and the dogs ran from me and wouldn't come even for treats or even eat them off the floor they were so nervous. So, it took several minutes to corner one at which point it peed itself. I managed to get its collar on without incident. I then got to the second dog, who growled, though I was able to slip the collar over his neck and buckle it from behind, at which point it peed and pooped on me. I cleaned myself and the mess the dogs made while I was there trying to leash them, but not the poop that was already there, and then took the dogs out. When we came back in, I shut the door behind me, but clearly not tight enough. I un-clipped the first dog who ran into the house and then I got to the second who had already growled at me. I tried to quickly take the collar off from behind before the dog knew what was going on, but after I undid the clip it turned an bit me. It didn't brake skin, but it made me jump, at which point the dog ran for the door, used its nose to open it enough to squeeze out. I followed the dog for almost 30 minutes before I lost sight of it. At which point I called the owners and the local police and animal control. I spent several hours combing the woods, I left food on the door step, I knocked on neighbors doors, and finally when it started to get dark, I found a picture of the dog made "Lost Dog" fliers and hung about 30 around the neighborhood and passed out several more. I'd had several conversations with the owner at this point, about securing the other dog and attempting to find their dog, which, as it turns out, has done this to them several times, though it seemed to quickly come back for them. So, when it was finally to dark to do any more I returned home. Later in the night (tonight), when the owners returned home, I received a call and they are accusing me of not walking the dogs, blaming me for not cleaning the dogs mess in the house (which is not something I had agreed to do), and their attitude went from being thankful for all the work I was doing to find their dog, to how dare I blame it on the dog biting me. I still have hope that the dog will be found or returned as it happened on a Sunday and no veterinary services or dog officers were available to contact if someone found the dog (though if they called the police they would have had my contact information). I already left the money they had paid me upfront at their home along with a note apologizing once again, but if worse come to worse and the dog is never found or is dead, am I still liable for a dog that had bitten me? Several neighbors even commented "Oh, that dog", when I was looking for it. Clearly there is some histroy there that I was lied to about in my screening of the dog. Thanks for any input you have! more

Voting Question: What Happens If A Dog Walker Lost Clients Dog After Dog Bit Him?

I own a dog walking business and had a dog run off on me and am wondering what the ramifications might be. I am bonded & insured, but I wounder if I am still libal after I was bit by the dog that escaped. This was a new client, the family only spoke broken English, so I didn't get as detailed in my pre-screening as I normally do, my first mistake. They were not looking for a regular walk, only help for 1 day with their two dogs. So, I tried to get the essential information about the dogs vaccinations and temperament. They told me everything was up to date and the dogs were well behaved. They did bark at me when I first showed up, many dogs to bark at strangers coming to the house, but calmed down after a minute, though they never came over for me to pet them, I assumed with a few treats I could leash them and walk them with no problem. So, when I showed up at 7AM the day I was to walk them there was already poop in the house and the dogs ran from me and wouldn't come even for treats or even eat them off the floor they were so nervous. So, it took several minutes to corner one at which point it peed itself. I managed to get its collar on without incident. I then got to the second dog, who growled, though I was able to slip the collar over his neck and buckle it from behind, at which point it peed and pooped on me. I cleaned myself and the mess the dogs made while I was there trying to leash them, but not the poop that was already there, and then took the dogs out. When we came back in, I shut the door behind me, but clearly not tight enough. I un-clipped the first dog who ran into the house and then I got to the second who had already growled at me. I tried to quickly take the collar off from behind before the dog knew what was going on, but after I undid the clip it turned an bit me. It didn't brake skin, but it made me jump, at which point the dog ran for the door, used its nose to open it enough to squeeze out. I followed the dog for almost 30 minutes before I lost sight of it. At which point I called the owners and the local police and animal control. I spent several hours combing the woods, I left food on the door step, I knocked on neighbors doors, and finally when it started to get dark, I found a picture of the dog made "Lost Dog" fliers and hung about 30 around the neighborhood and passed out several more. I'd had several conversations with the owner at this point, about securing the other dog and attempting to find their dog, which, as it turns out, has done this to them several times, though it seemed to quickly come back for them. So, when it was finally to dark to do any more I returned home. Later in the night (tonight), when the owners returned home, I received a call and they are accusing me of not walking the dogs, blaming me for not cleaning the dogs mess in the house (which is not something I had agreed to do), and their attitude went from being thankful for all the work I was doing to find their dog, to how dare I blame it on the dog biting me. I still have hope that the dog will be found or returned as it happened on a Sunday and no veterinary services or dog officers were available to contact if someone found the dog (though if they called the police they would have had my contact information). I already left the money they had paid me upfront at their home along with a note apologizing once again, but if worse come to worse and the dog is never found or is dead, am I still liable for a dog that had bitten me? Several neighbors even commented "Oh, that dog", when I was looking for it. Clearly there is some histroy there that I was lied to about in my screening of the dog. Thanks for any input you have! more

Resolved Question: How do I find out if the place i am renting is uninhabitable? It's awful!?

I found this seemingly cute mother-in-law while my husband was away on business and a little over a year later, its become a disaster. Everything seemed fine when I found it, albeit it was extremely old, but it was so quaint and cute, and clean looking, I decided to go for it. Now the tub constantly leaks at the knobs and underneath where the tile is, the front door doesn't have any seals around it because they have all worn off over time so anything can get in at the bottom/sides including the air outside and bugs/mice. Plus the latch doesn't work so it constantly blows open unless the deadbolt it locked. Also, we have found some pretty gross dark black mold spanning about 5 feet on the walls in the closet. It's awful! Just recently we have seen mice running around in the kitchen like they aren't even scared of us, and can hear them all over in the walls. I know it is infested because we've caught 5 in the last month. The thing is, that landlords are so lazy that they won't fix any of these problems. They continue to say they will, then they wont. Its been 7 months since the problems have risen, and its getting worse. Now the mice are dying in the walls and the place stinks so bad! Plus my husband has taken some electrician courses for his job and says that the place isn't even to code. The bathroom isn't grounded and half of the outlets don't work, and there are wires sticking out in places that we didnt notice until after we moved in. Plus all of the windows and back door are sealed shut and we've been told (after signing the contract) not to try to open them. Since everything is only one pane, the cold comes in and chills the whole house. We have one little stove fireplace thing that can barely heat one room. All of the walls inside somehow are retaining moisture and when we put our hands on them, there are little water beads. Some of them are wood paneling so Im scared to think of the mold that might be hiding under there. And the baseboards have started to crack apart, showing us there are miceholes all over. Plus we have seen cockroaches, spiders, and tons of ants. Now I could've been more thorough checking it before agreeing to sign, but the walkthrough seemed find, and I assumed for them to rent, things would have to be kept up or fixed. My husband and i are very clean people, it's just that all of these things, are things that have happend over a years worth of time and without maintenance (that landlords should be doing) have basically ruined that place. Now I am wondering if there is any way to prove that it isnt safe, so we can get out of our contract. Whether someone come in and test the mold, or we find documents that show what the electrical coding needs to be. Or anything! We just don't want to sink our own money into something that isnt ours, and that we pay rent to have fixed! We have 6 months left and i don't know if I can stand 6 more days. I am pregnant (3 months along) and am worried about my health, and the baby's. Also the smells of the mold and dead mice are making me sicker than i should be! Can anyone help, please?! more

Resolved Question: Why is it that so many less that perfect people trying to judge Tiger Woods?

What anyone does in private is their business.... And if someone is looking for someone that was perfect then let them take a look at Jesus, Who was the only perfect man that ever existed... Now I do not ever remember Tiger Wood saying that he was perfect, But what I have heard him say is that he can play a good game of Golf which he has proven over and over again... And being just a man myself I can understand how some men react when hundred of women start throwing themselves at you... So the man had sex with several women... Well let them without sins cast the first stone... I really feel that the people that are in need of some sort of attention please find someone else to pick on for Tiger Wood had to work his butt of to get to be where he is at...... And if you really want to find something wrong please look in your own back-yard firstWell not only black man cheat on their wives... When all of those married slave owner had more children with their slaves then they did with their wives...... And we won't even include our white Presidents.... more

Resolved Question: How do I list my business on the list would like to get started...I have a handyman business?

I do wood flooring, tile, build decks, hang lights, bathroom fixtures, etc...I am honest and hard working...can be reached for free estimates..817-808-2615 more

Resolved Question: Look at this really cool story I wrote!?

Prologue Four photos were laid out on the dusty bed. Four people stared up at an old woman looking down upon them, they were smiling and she wasn’t. Her face was crinkled and her lips pursed. It was as if it hurt her to look at these pictures, even though they were of total strangers - strangers that she would soon meet. The old woman with the purple and burnt-orange head scarf had been waiting in the small dank room for hours, planning; making sure everything was perfect so nothing could go wrong. The ceremony had to go as planned, like it had done exactly sixty years ago. She remembered back to that night, how she had been so beautiful and young; A lively girl in a little black dress who was celebrating her seventeenth birthday with her boyfriend. There had been about to head off to a ball when she changed her mind. She was going to follow her heart, and follow the instructions of the anonymous letter that had arrived earlier that day. She wasn’t sure if her boy had been upset by this turn of events, because she never saw him again. She had escaped her friends and caught a train to inner Melbourne where it took almost an hour to find the destination she was looking for... she was a little bit surprised at what she had found but was shocked at what those people had told her... A tear fell upon one of the frozen smiling faces. It was a girl with blonde hair and grey eyes, she looked so happy and peaceful, and the old woman preyed that these kids wouldn’t make the same mistakes that she did when she found out her fate, like these youths were going to in a matter of hours...   Chapter one – Bonnie Never in a million years would I have imagined my parents forgetting my birthday, but they did. I woke up to a quite house; my bedroom was filling with morning light which shone on my white chest of drawers and four-poster bed. I had been working towards a new look in my room for over a year, saving up my money which I got from working at a fruit shop down the road. It was finally starting to look like me – clean, peaceful with a creative flair. All the furniture was white, and the accessories were mostly greens and yellows. I had asked for a new desk, and to be honest, I expected it, but when I entered the kitchen where mum was sitting by herself sipping coffee I knew I didn’t get it – or anything. “Morning mum,” I said sitting down at the table too, smiling. And I knew instantly by the look on her face that she was horrified at herself. It took her a moment to actually gather any words together. She straightened out her dressing gown, took another gulp of coffee and then stuttered for a while before saying. “Happy seventeenth Bon!” I was shocked. But I didn’t have the heart to be angry. I just sat there, looking around our spacious wood-interior kitchen, in silence. She studied me for a moment, her grey eyes which were so much like my own showed guilt, her brow was creased. Then she sighed. “You’re a good girl you know, and your father and I thought that because you’re older now, and you deserve a present that you want, you can choose your own. Your dad will give you the money.” If I was any normal person who didn’t always feel bad after arguing I would have jumped down my mum’s throat at this point. It was a good excuse, I give her that, but really – I was older, like she had said, I can tell when something has been made up on the spot. I would have also pulled my short and plump dad back into the room where he had appeared whistling tune only moments before. “Thanks mum... and I know you and dad have been caught up in the business at the moment, so it’s okay that you forgot my birthday. I’m going to have a shower.” I left her with a stunned expression and her coffee, and went back up to my room. It wasn’t exactly the best start to my birthday, my seventeenth birthday which I had been working towards for months. I wanted it to be the best day... I wanted it to be the start of a new me, a more courageous and exciting me. I guess it’s true that a leopard can’t change his spots – for now... Our house is modern and spacious. I am an only child so there’s plenty of room and because mum’s a clean freak nothing is ever out of place. It’s not clinical though, it still feels like home in every possible way. The bathroom was tiled and a double shower was set in the corner near the cedar bench. I walked over to the mirror and I was about to examine my face when I got this sudden surge. I needed to be wet, near water. I had to soak my pale skin; I wanted the small water droplets to roll down my stomach and to eventually soak through... I ran a bath as quickly as I could and stripped down to nothing. I tied my wavy blonde hair into a bun before letting it out again – I wanted every part of my body to be soaking in water. what do you think? thanks :)) more

Resolved Question: What is your opinion on the start of my story? I would LOVE to hear it!?

Prologue Four photos were laid out on the dusty bed. Four people stared up at an old woman looking down upon them, they were smiling and she wasn’t. Her face was crinkled and her lips pursed. It was as if it hurt her to look at these pictures, even though they were of total strangers - strangers that she would soon meet. The old woman with the purple and burnt-orange head scarf had been waiting in the small dank room for hours, planning; making sure everything was perfect so nothing could go wrong. The ceremony had to go as planned, like it had done exactly sixty years ago. She remembered back to that night, how she had been so beautiful and young; A lively girl in a little black dress who was celebrating her seventeenth birthday with her boyfriend. There had been about to head off to a ball when she changed her mind. She was going to follow her heart, and follow the instructions of the anonymous letter that had arrived earlier that day. She wasn’t sure if her boy had been upset by this turn of events, because she never saw him again. She had escaped her friends and caught a train to inner Melbourne where it took almost an hour to find the destination she was looking for... she was a little bit surprised at what she had found but was shocked at what those people had told her... A tear fell upon one of the frozen smiling faces. It was a girl with blonde hair and grey eyes, she looked so happy and peaceful, and the old woman preyed that these kids wouldn’t make the same mistakes that she did when she found out her fate, like these youths were going to in a matter of hours...   Chapter one – Bonnie Never in a million years would I have imagined my parents forgetting my birthday, but they did. I woke up to a quite house; my bedroom was filling with morning light which shone on my white chest of drawers and four-poster bed. I had been working towards a new look in my room for over a year, saving up my money which I got from working at a fruit shop down the road. It was finally starting to look like me – clean, peaceful with a creative flair. All the furniture was white, and the accessories were mostly greens and yellows. I had asked for a new desk, and to be honest, I expected it, but when I entered the kitchen where mum was sitting by herself sipping coffee I knew I didn’t get it – or anything. “Morning mum,” I said sitting down at the table too, smiling. And I knew instantly by the look on her face that she was horrified at herself. It took her a moment to actually gather any words together. She straightened out her dressing gown, took another gulp of coffee and then stuttered for a while before saying. “Happy seventeenth Bon!” I was shocked. But I didn’t have the heart to be angry. I just sat there, looking around our spacious wood-interior kitchen, in silence. She studied me for a moment, her grey eyes which were so much like my own showed guilt, her brow was creased. Then she sighed. “You’re a good girl you know, and your father and I thought that because you’re older now, and you deserve a present that you want, you can choose your own. Your dad will give you the money.” If I was any normal person who didn’t always feel bad after arguing I would have jumped down my mum’s throat at this point. It was a good excuse, I give her that, but really – I was older, like she had said, I can tell when something has been made up on the spot. I would have also pulled my short and plump dad back into the room where he had appeared whistling tune only moments before. “Thanks mum... and I know you and dad have been caught up in the business at the moment, so it’s okay that you forgot my birthday. I’m going to have a shower.” I left her with a stunned expression and her coffee, and went back up to my room. It wasn’t exactly the best start to my birthday, my seventeenth birthday which I had been working towards for months. I wanted it to be the best day... I wanted it to be the start of a new me, a more courageous and exciting me. I guess it’s true that a leopard can’t change his spots – for now... Our house is modern and spacious. I am an only child so there’s plenty of room and because mum’s a clean freak nothing is ever out of place. It’s not clinical though, it still feels like home in every possible way. The bathroom was tiled and a double shower was set in the corner near the cedar bench. I walked over to the mirror and I was about to examine my face when I got this sudden surge. I needed to be wet, near water. I had to soak my pale skin; I wanted the small water droplets to roll down my stomach and to eventually soak through... I ran a bath as quickly as I could and stripped down to nothing. I tied my wavy blonde hair into a bun before letting it out again – I wanted every part of my body to be soaking in water. okay so im 15 and this is the start to my story. what do you think? thanks :)) more

Voting Question: How should I handle this situation with our neighbor?

I need everyone's help here. My husband and I live in an apartment complex. We live on the second floor, and there's this chick that just moved in like 6 months ago downstairs. For the most part we haven't talked to her too much, as we like to keep to ourselves at the apartment complex...but lately she has come out of the wood works. Please pardon the length of this, but I need some opinions. One day we were outside on our balcony smoking and talking to one of our other neighbors who was out walking his dog. She comes back from the gym and then just interrupts and starts talking. Well a dump truck comes by so she figures it's too loud, and points her finger upwards. Next thing you know she is knocking on our door. To be polite, my husband lets her in and she automatically plops down on my couch. My husband said "uh, we're still outside" so she follows him outside and starts chatting. Now meanwhile, she is staring at my husband the entire time she's talking rarely glancing at me. Other things that have happened is where my husband will be on the internet at the clubhouse and she was there and got some coffee and then looked over his shoulder (he was on a police dept website because he just got a letter from a police department in response to an application he submitted)...he didn't speak to her..and she asks "What did you get accepted or something?" As if this is any of her business.. Another day she walks into the clubhouse with knitting needles and says to my husband "i'm knitting a scarf for myself, wanna see?" He replies "no, and i'm on the phone with my wife right now". An another occassion she proceeds to tell my husband how she's getting into yoga and how it makes her feel balanced. My husband asked me...why does she feel it important to tell me these things? Another night she's talking to both of us on our balcony telling us she's going to let us borrow some movies (which we didn't ask for) and also that she might be joining the military and if she does she is going to give us her fish tank (again...we didn't ask for this). I've asked my husband if he thinks she's flirting with him, and he said he doesn't think so, or just has not picked up on it. What I find weird...is my husband is in the Army. I knit, and my hubby and I both do yoga and we have a fish tank. All of these are things she's mentioned to me and my husband which we have never talked to her about. It's almost as if she's trying to become..me? Or just too much of a coincidence. So with this woman imposing in coversation, and also inviting herself into our home...we've decided that it's best that I knock on her door this evening to speak to her about how she is making us uncomfortable. I need to know how to approach this..because I don't want to be mean. Should I approach it as: A. Since she does undercover work and probably doesn't have much of a social life, that she just doesn't know her place in social situations and is just desparate friends. B. Or do you think she has a thing for my husband.... My husband wants nothing to do with her, and like I said I want to be nice, but I need to know the best approach. My guess is option A. is the best approach because she hasn't crossed any lines like to flirting or anything yet... Background: My husband and I are caucasian 28 and 24 respectively and this woman is 32 and caucasian, no boyfriend, and we've never seen anyone at her apartment.luckily for us, we are transferring to a larger apartment in another building on the opposite side of the building. For those of you who has asked if we've tried ignoring her? The answer is yes. For the most part without appearing rude. My husband's answers are very short, and usually "Well have fun with that".....and something even shorter like "yup"....or "nope"For information asked, yes I am positive that nothing has happened between the two of them. My husband is extremely faithful people and actually disband from friends who even cheat on their spouses..I'm adding things as people answer... so no, I don't think she's prettier than I.. I am quite attractive and she's actually quite unattractive, and I'm/we are not insecure. Remember, this is something that my husband and I are BOTH uncomfortable with. Like I said we don't want to be mean to her. Just we don't like people invading our space.When I say she does undercover work so she must not have much of a social life I meant she works very odd hours late at night and such, and we've never seen her go out other than to go shopping. more

Voting Question: Should I talk to our neighbor about how she is making us feel uncomfortable?

I need everyone's help here. My husband and I live in an apartment complex. We live on the second floor, and there's this chick that just moved in like 6 months ago downstairs. For the most part we haven't talked to her too much, as we like to keep to ourselves at the apartment complex...but lately she has come out of the wood works. Please pardon the length of this, but I need some opinions. One day we were outside on our balcony smoking and talking to one of our other neighbors who was out walking his dog. She comes back from the gym and then just interrupts and starts talking. Well a dump truck comes by so she figures it's too loud, and points her finger upwards. Next thing you know she is knocking on our door. To be polite, my husband lets her in and she automatically plops down on my couch. My husband said "uh, we're still outside" so she follows him outside and starts chatting. Now meanwhile, she is staring at my husband the entire time she's talking rarely glancing at me. Other things that have happened is where my husband will be on the internet at the clubhouse and she was there and got some coffee and then looked over his shoulder (he was on a police dept website because he just got a letter from a police department in response to an application he submitted)...he didn't speak to her..and she asks "What did you get accepted or something?" As if this is any of her business.. Another day she walks into the clubhouse with knitting needles and says to my husband "i'm knitting a scarf for myself, wanna see?" He replies "no, and i'm on the phone with my wife right now". An another occassion she proceeds to tell my husband how she's getting into yoga and how it makes her feel balanced. My husband asked me...why does she feel it important to tell me these things? Another night she's talking to both of us on our balcony telling us she's going to let us borrow some movies (which we didn't ask for) and also that she might be joining the military and if she does she is going to give us her fish tank (again...we didn't ask for this). I've asked my husband if he thinks she's flirting with him, and he said he doesn't think so, or just has not picked up on it. What I find weird...is my husband is in the Army. I knit, and my hubby and I both do yoga and we have a fish tank. All of these are things she's mentioned to me and my husband which we have never talked to her about. It's almost as if she's trying to become..me? Or just too much of a coincidence. So with this woman imposing in coversation, and also inviting herself into our home...we've decided that it's best that I knock on her door this evening to speak to her about how she is making us uncomfortable. I need to know how to approach this..because I don't want to be mean. Should I approach it as: A. Since she does undercover work and probably doesn't have much of a social life, that she just doesn't know her place in social situations and is just desparate friends. B. Or do you think she has a thing for my husband.... My husband wants nothing to do with her, and like I said I want to be nice, but I need to know the best approach. My guess is option A. is the best approach because she hasn't crossed any lines like to flirting or anything yet... Background: My husband and I are caucasian 28 and 24 respectively and this woman is 32 and caucasian, no boyfriend, and we've never seen anyone at her apartment. more

Resolved Question: I wan't to start a business but how do I make money ("membership-workshop")?

Ok so first off I'm only 18 and still in college (Electrical Engineering at Purdue North Central.) I would love to start a business today but I also think I should finish my education... Maybe theres a way I could do both? Anyhow I wan't to set up a shop, you know like a big building full of tools and work tables! Id have wood working machinery, metals/ welding, electronics, a CNC router... Maybe some automobile stuff! And it would be a like a gym membership where you pay so much a month and you have access to the shop to work on projects and stuff... Have tools available for "rent" almost for free if your a member... I have a lot more ideas for a business like this but ill save it... I think it would go over real well in our town/ city! Im just wondering how Id make money? I mean charge people $50-$150 a month (no idea whats resinable???) Even still how would I make rent/ mortgage however that works... Then id need money for all the tools and supplies... Any advice would be awesome! Even just ideas for the shop in general! more

Resolved Question: Can Liberals lead by example or stop complaining?

Look I am tired of hearing about the environment, health care, and "what is fair" For starters the environment: If Global Warming is real quit driving your car, exhaling giving off CO2, stop flying in air planes, don't ride the bus, boycott the CO2 Emitting life style. Also with the environment is if you're so for saving trees, don't live in a house (Since houses are framed by wood), don't use paper, don't use anything that consumes a tree, even the land you live on if there where trees there shame on you. Health care is a good one: If health care needs to be in the hands of the government, every liberal that has private health care needs to donate all their money to the government and use medicaid or medicare, because it's so good in service, just like the DMV. I don't get why Liberals complain about health care quantity (number of people who have it) when really we have the best quality in health care because I'd love to see socialist Cuba afford MRI machines every where when everyone is driving a car made in 1960, yes sicko lied, that hospital was private for government officials only. Fairness is funny too: Liberals if you want to be fair at work, stop taking the promotions you get offered for being a good employee just tell your boss it's not fair that you preform better and demand you get equal pay. Then I want you to take all your money, and start a company, tell me how easy you assume it is. I want you to tell me from first hand perspective how companies are so greedy wanting to work for a profit. I can't think of anyone that won't work for a profit, why would anyone spend half a million dollars on a small business only to break even still being down half a million dollars. Second with fairness Look at all the programs like welfare, food stamps, medicaid, and all that other hand out junk. We have been paying for it for along time, historically we still have poverty in America the solution never worked. That's because you give people jobs, not monthly hand outs the are dependent on. Make people independent for them selves, not dependent on the government, once the government goes bankrupt they lost it all. That feels good, read it please, I really want to know how Liberals think. more

Resolved Question: My husband is dragging his feet with getting the nursery ready and it's driving me crazy! Am I too pushy?

I am 20 weeks and 1 day and we still cannot agree on how we are going to decorate our son’s room. My husband is the biggest procrastinator ever and the problem is HE DOES NOT LIKE TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHOICE THAT’S BEEN MADE. I can be a procrastinator to a certain degree, but when it’s time to take care of business I’m all about making it happen. When I was about 16 weeks we purchased a crib set for a good price, but spent quite a bit of time looking at basically the same selections throughout several stores prior to that. We were searching for the best deal, but there’s only so many places you go, so many prices you can compare, so many shades of wood you can choose from. I finally said, we’ve been all over and it’s time to narrow down the choices and make a final decision. We found out we are having a boy last Monday. I already had some idea of what I would want to décor to be if it was a girl or a boy. He also had an idea in his mind, so I thought. One minute he’d say he liked this them and the next he’d bring up another theme. He had to work this weekend so I went looking around and found a crib bedding set for half the price of what it would cost in the major department stores. I started to get it but knew he probably wouldn’t like it because that would mean we would be finalizing something. I talked to him about it and told him the price. He agreed that was a good price compared to the other places we’d been looking at. I called the store and had them put it on hold. We went to get it the next morning. I asked him if he liked it before we purchased it. He said he liked it. Low and behold, we get home and he starts searching for other bedroom themes. He said he’d found a few others that he liked, but now that we’ve already purchased one it’s too late. We got into a huge argument because I told him he should have said something in advance. He is doing the same thing with the name. I hated most of the names he suggested. He hated most of mine. His names are very traditional and old-fashioned. His parents had him late and they are old-fashioned, so I feel that’s why he picks old-fashioned names. We semi-agreed on a name I liked and had been calling the baby by this name even before I found out it was a boy. Shortly after we found out, he started proposing new names. I agreed to explore other options. Then he said it made no sense to start from scratch and it didn’t feel right to call him something else since we’d gotten so used to that name. We finalized the middle name, so I thought … and told our close family and friends what we’d selected. Now, because his parents and one of his best friends don’t like the name he is second guessing it again. He started throwing more names out there this weekend. I told him we’ll keep the baby’s name up in the air (which is how he likes things to be) until he’s born – and once he’s gotten an approval from everyone we can name him. The crib is still in the box in the garage. I have tried to get with him several times to decide which room we’re going to use for the baby’s room. We have two to choose from and have been going back and forth on that. He has been like this every since we got married five years ago. He is like this on everything, from where we’ll go out to eat, to where we’ll go on vacation. He will spend HOURS doing research on any given topic and at the end of the day he is no farther than when he started. It is very aggravating because I am an aggressive person who is results driven. I like to cross things off the list and move on to the next thing. I don’t jump and buy the first thing, but eventually there comes a time when you have to move on and make progress. He says I don’t like to take the time to investigate things. But he spends too much time investigating things and nothing ever gets completed. When it does get completed it’s because he’s gotten frustrated with me bugging him about it or asking what the next step is – and then he caves in to what I want just to get it done. I don’t want that. I want him to make decisions and stick to them and get the job done!!! I have tried talking to him but he always turns it into a negative situation. He says I make him feel like he doesn’t know how to do anything. No doubt, I know he knows how and what he doesn’t know he can figure it out. He’s a smart guy. He was an only child who was very sheltered and did not get to express himself and utilize his skills. more

Resolved Question: Approx. how much for small business insurance, yearly?

My brother and I have collected enough professional tree equipment to start a part-time business. We have been doing small, very low-risk jobs for the wood and for a very low fee just to get the work. The money is incredible and we've already made enough to pay for the equipment we have and to buy more. My question is, and I don't want to hear "call an agent" because I'm also looking for feedback along with your estimate, how much would the insurance approximately cost for a Pennsylvania based company with no employees. Also, if we hire occasional help to do labor while we run the power equipment does is that asking for trouble? We use - - Four chainsaws, Stihl 28" roller, Echo 16" tree saw, McCullough 19" and a 36" base saw. - Four wheel drive truck and 18' trailer - 6 HP hydraulic log spitter - climbing spikes, ropes, etc. Anyone have some insight for us? Thanks more

Resolved Question: Guitarists/Bassists, short survey, please help?

Basically I'm working on starting a custom guitar business (just small to begin with). So I'm doing some market research, it'd be great if you answered these couple of questions for me. Thank you very much! 1. Are you male or female? 2. How old are you? 3. Are you a guitarist or bassist or both? 4. Do you prefer acoustic, electric or semi-acoustic guitars? 5. On average, how many days a week do you play guitar? 6. What genre/s of music do you play? 7. What is the most important thing you consider when buying guitars (eg. Sound, weight, brand of pickups, type of wood, shape, colour, number of frets)? 8. Have you ever considered buying a custom guitar? 9. Would you rather buy a factory made guitar or a handmade guitar? Why? 10. What would the specifications of your dream guitar be? 11. How much (approximately) would be willing pay for your dream guitar? more

Resolved Question: Wrote a script and have a cast... what do you think?

I have written a script with my friend and we plan to turn it into an independent movie. Here is a sloppy summary of it. Tell me what you think. We open with three guys in a car and they are robbing the money off of a truck that is transferring money. A cop had followed them and begins to shoot at them and then it blacks out. We see two of the guys from the car, Brian and Jack, a year ago. These are the events that lead up to that day. They are told by a guy that they work for to find some information. They beat a guy and kill him for the info. But a cop, Vincent, is on their tail. Brian and Jack find out how much money their boss is making, and quit. They decide to sell weapons themselves. They get into the arms business through another friend, Jim, who is in the police but he is also doing deals of all sorts of things on the side. He fills him in on the cop Vincent, who works for Jim on how much Vincent knows. At the same time, Jim is leading Vincent off of their trail to protect them. Brian and Jack start to use too much power and Jim warns them to stop taking over the business in the city. Brian is shot that night after fighting with Jim and Jack thinks it was Jim. They go out on their own, and get caught and go to jail. When released, Jack plans to rob that truck and Brian agrees. They make peace with Jim, who helps them rob. We come back to that day before and see that Brian is having second thoughts. We find out that Jim is caught by Vincent about his deals, and he wants money to leave the country forever. They decide they need to do this, and get the money and start driving. They are followed by Vincent into the woods and other cops. There, Jack and Jim were shot. They were both killed and Brian went on to serve life in prison while Vincent was praised for catching them. I know it's long, but it's just the sloppy version. There's a lot more to it. I would like honest opinions. Thanks. more

Resolved Question: Comments on my book? Can anyone help improve it?

The Power Book 1- Leverage Darren’s Story And so we go. By Aaron Austin Prologue Through the midnight darkness, a single figure runs through the woods, and goes underground. “Do you have it, Pete?” He asks the man he meets there. “Yes.” He says, as he pulls out a small gem the size of a pebble. As he hands it to the other man, it starts to glow a dazzling red. As he walks out, Pete mutters, “Nice doing business with you, asshole.” And he throws a grenade into the hole. The darkness of the night is lit up by an explosion. Chapter 1 “So that’s why the Shaolin Monks were the most deadly warrior of all time.” I finish. “Thank you, Darren.” My teacher, Mrs. Ryder, says. As I go to sit down, I pass my half- brother, Alec Yven. My name is Darren Evans, and I am in 8th grade. School goes by slowly. Finally, the bell rings to release us to the world. As Alec and I are walking home, Alec says, “Hey, Darren, look!” He then points at a rock about twenty yards away, and I see two small gems about the size of my fist in the rock. We run over to the rock and pull out the gems. Just as we pull them out, an odd shiver goes through my body. “Uh, Darren, we should go.” Alec says. “Yeah.” I say. When we get home, we go to talk with our dad. “Darren! Alec! How was school?” He says. “Fine,” I say, “But I wanted to ask you about these rocks we found.” Alec and I hold out our rocks for Dad to see. “Holy shit!” He yells. “Where the hell did you find these?!?” “We found them in the field by school.” Alec says. “Damn, damn, damn! This is NOT good!” “What is it?” I ask. “Those are power gems your uncle found fifteen years ago. We blew them up years ago, yet they’re still there!” The next morning, as Alec and I are walking to school, he asks me about Dad. “Why do you think he blew up like that?” “I have no idea,” I say. “But he’s probably gonna try to destroy them again.” Just as we see our school, Alec collapses. “Alec! You okay?” I yell. “What the hell?” He mutters. And all the sudden, I fell a searing pain in my leg, and I see a knife sticking through my leg. I turn around and see a guy around the age of twenty with a dagger and a gun pointed at me, with another guy next to him picking Alec up and dragging him toward a black van behind him. As I run toward the man with Alec, I feel a pair of arms grab my hands, yank them behind my back, and tie them together with duct tape. As I try to run away, the man grabs be and stabs me through the arm. I scream so loud, tons of people look outside from their houses, and the man holding me puts tape over my mouth and throws me into the van along with Alec. As we start to go forward, I finally realize it- We’re being abducted!! Chapter Two After roughly two hours, the van stops. Someone comes and opens the back, and pulls us out, with us still tied up and gagged. He blindfolds us and they lead us up a hill into a house and throws us on the ground. “So, you finally have them. Did anyone see you?” A voice asks. “No, no one.” Says another voice. “What about our cash?” “Right here.” There is a sound like a bag being unzipped, then re-zipped, and then the second man says, “Nice doing business with you.” Before the men leave, they take off our blindfolds. We see a man around twenty- five, and a girl around 14, my age. The man says, “Okay, listen up, because I’m not going to say this again. I’m John, and this is Kate. If you want to live, you have to cooperate, okay? Just nod.” Alec and I both nod yes. “Good.” John says. “Take them to the back, Kate.” And with that John walks away. “Okay.” Kate says. She comes over to us and helps us up. “Come on.” She says. She pulls the knife out of my leg and bandages my arm and leg. She walks us to a room in the back of the building and ties us to chairs, leaving our gags on. She walks away. Around two hours later she walks back in. “Are you guys gonna listen and work with me here?” We nod. “Good.” She says. She comes over to us and takes off our gags. “What the fuck! What the hell do you want with us?” Alec yells. “Do you want the tape back on?” Kate says. “No.” Alec says. Kate unties us and leads us to the front room of the house. We sit on the couch across from the chair Kate’s sitting in. “Okay, listen.” Kate starts. “I’m only fourteen, your age. The only reason I’m in this is for money and power.” “What are you going to do with us?” Alec asks. “Nothing,” Kate says. “Just keep you here for a few weeks until your parents give us what we want- those stones you found yesterday.” “How do you know we had those?” I ask. “We were watching. We also saw when you two tripped and stabbed yourselves with the rocks.” All of the sudden, we hear a car coming down the street. “Shit!” Kate says. “John’s back. I’m gonna have to tie you up for now until you can come out. Okay?” We nod. Kate takes us to the back, ties us to chairs, gags us, and blindfolds us, and then leaves, locking the door behind her.It's made to start off with that, kind of with a BANG!!; If you know what I mean.If you want to read all of it, email me at aaronaustin190@yahoo.com more

Resolved Question: UFC president Dana White says EA Sports responsible for current MMA video game war?

UFC president Dana White has a simple message for fighters dreaming of competing in the world-famous octagon: Don't do business with EA Sports. In an edict that started as a rumor on internet message boards, White stated after Saturday's historic UFC 100 event that he was "at war" with the popular video-game developers and that those that side with EA Sports will find themselves out of the UFC's good graces. But perhaps surprising to some, White insists it was EA Sports that fired the first salvo in the still-developing controversy. "It's easy to sit on the other side of the table and judge me on how I react to stuff like this," White said. "But let me tell you what I've been in the trenches for almost 10 years, and I've been dealing with all these businesses, and EA was one of them." EA Sports holds the publishing rights for several of the market's most successful sports-related video games, including the Madden NFL, FIFA, NASCAR and Tiger Woods PGA series. White said the UFC had hoped to join the ranks of those titles, but the California-based EA Sports declined to discuss the possibility. "EA Sports told us, 'You're not a real sport,'" White said. "'We wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this.'" With EA Sports passing on the rights to the UFC's video game license, rival software company THQ elected to partner with mixed martial arts' biggest promotion. The company's first effort, "UFC Undisputed 2009," has shipped approximately 2 million units since its May release according to White, and the fiery exec is upset that EA Sports is now changing their tune with the recent announcement of a forthcoming "EA Sports MMA" title. "We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a video-game deal in the worst economy in the world," White said. "We go out there and do this thing, and it's successful, and now [expletive] EA Sports wants to do a video game. Really? That's not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago. "You told us you'd never be in business with us. They wouldn't even take a meeting because mixed martial arts disgusted them. This wasn't a real sport. Boy, they got over that real quick, didn't they?" White views EA Sports' tactics with obvious disapproval, and he's made it clear that any fighter who signs over their likeness to the new project will be blacklisted from the UFC. "I'm not tap-dancing around this thing or whatever," White said. "I'm telling you straight-up, I'm at war with them right now. That's how I look at it." While former UFC champion and currently contracted UFC fighter Randy Couture is expected to appear in the EA Sports offering a matter White says the company worked through with "The Natural" during a recent court appearance the UFC president said not to expect that trend to continue. "You won't be in the UFC," White said about additional fighters who sign with EA Sports. Despite reports that Nick Diaz, Mohammed "King Mo" Lawal, Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Jake Shields all potential targets to fight for the UFC in the future have agreed to appear in the EA Sports title, White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he's not sure who the software company has secured for the upcoming MMA game. But White remains firm in his decision, and he believes he's doing it for the right reasons. "You know what the difference is?" White asked. "I'm in the mixed martial arts business. EA isn't. "EA doesn't give a [expletive] about mixed martial arts. They made that very clear." (this article out of yahoo! sports news is credited by John Morgan, MMAjunkie.com) Do you believe Dana White's actions and statements about UFC fighters losing their job if they sign a deal with EA are justified? If you ask me, Dana made all the right moves that EA hasn't. EA had its chance, passed on the opportunity to licensce the UFC, and now we don't have to worry about them making the one and only half-*** mma videogame as they have with the other sports franchise games that they have developed. Too bad for them. For those that have played UFC Undisputed, I think we're fairly satisfied with what THQ has done and we don't need a generic mma game to satisfy our need for any other competition out there.greekgod person...most of the UFC fighters have or will likely appear in Undisputed or future UFC games by THQ. if they decided to run with EA's program, wouldn't that make them just as selfish if not more so as Dana White since they're almost guaranteed money from appearing in a UFC game under THQ? In the end, they're doing this UFC/THQ project to benefit themselves as well as the company that's been paying them as fighters since day 1. Dana White is just making sure they opportunity stays within the 'family'. Why would they want to screw themselves over?greekgod person...most of the UFC fighters have or will likely appear in Undisputed or future UFC games by THQ. if they decided to run with EA's program, wouldn't that make them just as selfish if not more so as Dana White since they're almost guaranteed money from appearing in a UFC game under THQ? In the end, they're doing this UFC/THQ project to benefit themselves as well as the company that's been paying them as fighters since day 1. Dana White is just making sure the opportunity stays within the 'family'. Why would they want to screw themselves over? more

Voting Question: CA: Landlord charging me for repairs after moving out...?

First off, I have 2 landlords sort of. We'll call them L and Z. L is the OWNER. Z is L's in-law and handles all her business. We've lived in this condo for 2 years. I gave notice to my landlord that we did not intend to renew our lease (which ended at the end of May) on the last day of April. EVERY day since then til the 25th of May both L and Z came TO the house, knocked on our door, to ask us if we were done cleaning yet. The landlord left me an angry voice mail 2 weeks before the month was up saying that we NEED to give her the keys already as it is whats appropriate because she needs to find new renters. I scheduled an initial inspection with Z a week before the 25th o May. I did not receive a written acknowledgment of the inspection. On the 25th, L showed up instead of Z almost an hour late. I invited L in, she took a look around the place, pointed out some cleaning I needed to do and took a look in every room in the house. At this point, I returned the keys to L. Fast forward to present day. I receive an itemized list of charges, totalling $6000 in repairs. My deposit will cover $2000 of it leaving me to pay $4000. We were told not to smoke in the house, which, unfortunately, a pair of the people living here with me chose to ignore. Charges include many things that were broken which I am definitely responsible for (like repairing the tracks on the closet doors, repairing the handle on the backdoor which I broke by accident, and replacing the carpets which had some burns). It also includes things I highly contest. Painting the ceilings (which were stucco, the charge says 'paint acoustic ceiling') $200 Cleaning the grout $225 (HUH? 2 years later, how can we keep grout WHITE?) And $710 to replace curled shelving linoleum in the kitchen cabinets, prime and paint them, and $60 to 'touch up the outsides' (these were all old stained wood cabinets). The curled linoleum was like that when we moved in and the landlord knows it. But shes still charging me for it since it wasn't something I wrote down on my walkthrough before signing the lease (I didn't write it down because it wasn't that bad, it wasn't any worse when Z decided they must be replaced at my expense) $125 for Pest Control which I am pissed about. A year ago, we had a major rat problem in the condo. We called Z and she sent in people to repair the hole they were crawling in. The repair people put a mesh screen over the hole, thats it. The landlord never actually saw it herself. I let Z know after they left via telephone that they fixed the rat problem but the hole was only covered over by a mesh screen. No one ever came to fix it any further. I quickly forgot about it as the rats were gone and that was what I wanted. Problems started a month later as the house then began to get infested by insects (roaches, ants, silverfish, earwigs) all of which were getting in from under the sink (where the hole was patched with just a mesh screen on the outside). I told Z every step of the way about it. Z stopped returning my calls due to another side issue i had with her regarding my car being towed from the complex parking lot. She also charged me for replacing a ceiling fan that had dirt along the edges (like all of my fans have had happened after regular use). $50 for labor, $300 for a new fan, and $48 to paint it. The fan worked fine, it was just dirty, we missed it as we cleaned =/. Can they do this? Should I be held responsible for damage that occurs because of improper repairs the LANDLORD did, like the linoleum and pests? Can I be held responsible for the fan as it was definitely normal wear and tear, on top of the fact that she REPLACED them and STILL charged me to paint it? How about leaking pipes under the sink? Isn't that normal wear and tear too? What can I do at this point? I have photographs, before and after, and documented our conversations regarding the rat problem and the poor repairs done thereafter.The grout in the bathroom WAS white. The problem is, the entire house was tile except for the bedrooms and stairway. The living room, dining room, and kitchen tile was impossible to stay white. These are very high traffic areas akin to a dirty carpet in front of a door. If we assume they do not need to replace the carpet, wouldn't that high traffic area be considered normal wear and tear? more

Resolved Question: What should I do to protect my former co-star actress from likely harm?

(I originally posted this question under the "theater and acting" category... before I realized this is probably the right place to post. So here it is again. Sorry if you have read it already...) I am an actor from Asia. I had a lead role in a re-make of a classic romance movie some ten years ago. My lead actress in that movie was a very young lady just starting out her career at the time. In the movie, she and I played lovers, so we had quite a few passionate kissing scenes and even a love-making scene that was full-nudity. The director was a well-respected director known for her work, and the scenes were beautiful. There were never any problems when we were making the film. But when it was finished, it was never released due to complicated legal problems regarding copyrights. Since the making of the movie, the actress and I have become great friends. I was even the guest of honor at her wedding years later when she decided to retire and started a family. She mostly sang during her professional career after our project, and had not again appeared in any kind of a love scene. Since our project was never released, even the few people who knew of her romantic performances in the project, her husband perhaps included, would probably have no idea of just how explicit those sexual scenes were. Recently, I have learned that the legal problems of the movie were resolved and the producers were finally going to make it a national release. This news came to me with mixed emotions. On one hand, I am glad that my project is finally out of the woods. But on the other hand, I just know the kind of harm it will cause my actress friend. She is a mother of three now, and has been completely out of the movie business for years. She married a son of an ultra-conservative, politically powerful family here. To say that the senior heads of her husband’s family will not be thrilled to see “a daughter-in-law, carrying the family’s name” all of a sudden on the big screen, passionately kissing and making love with a man naked, would be an understatement. I just know his family will likely give her an un-needed hard time so they can “save their face.” I want to help her, but I don’t know how. I would choose for the project not to be released if it would’ve meant she wouldn’t be harmed, but it is simply not my call. And since I am right in the middle of the whole thing, it seems anything I say or do would only add fuel to the fire. What should I do? I am at a lost of ideas. Please give me good advices… Thanks!Dear Guitarplayer, Thank you for your input. But this is Asia. Things are a little different here. Believe me, I have every reason to be concerned for her. True, we all signed contracts, but the timing -ten years after its supposed release date- is a little off. Meanwhile, you reminded me how less stressful it must have been for an actor to work in the West, where people take performing arts more professionally and less personally. more

Resolved Question: Pit bull mix sometimes grabs the leash, tugs, shakes her head violently? How to stop it?

Another question about a ~2 year old female pit mix that I got from the SPCA last week. Tonight for example, we played in the yard (big yard) fetching a rope toy and running for about 30 minutes (play was off leash after she did her business on the leash). Then we went for a short walk in the woods nearby on the leash, and she played in the creek and got a bit wound up again. Walked her home calmly, and when I stopped to pick up her rope toy, she grabbed the leash, started backing up (kind of in a play bow), shook it violently (like she does with her toy). If I say "No" sharply, it has no effect. I can hardly keep a grip on the leash because she is shaking it so violently. If I try and grab the leash, she will bite my hand (not hard at all) or my shoes, and no voice correction works. She is on an easy walker harness because it's the only thing that keeps her from pulling during a walk. She just tugs and tugs with a regular collar. With this easy walk harness, the leash is attached to the chest, so the leash is within reach. If I scruff her, she immediately lies down and stops. I try and keep her there for a few minutes, but then she starts tearing at the grass, and tries to get at my hand, pushes at me with her feet. even when I think she's calm and we start walking again, she starts up. I can't find a correction or activity to get her to stop it and listen to me. I have one of Cesar Millan's books - she does sit for putting the harness on/off, sits before we go outside (I make her sit) and before we come in, I am the first one in and out of the door. Just the one issue that she is non-responsive to correction. I need ideas before this gets out of hand. Thanks!Let me add that she is mouthy, as pitt bulls can be when they're excited. The Pit bull book I have does not recommend buckle collars or even choke collars because pits have high pain tolerance, and the collar end up at the base of the neck where it has no effect at all if you pull on it. She walks very well in the harness and I've already taken her to the beach and walked around town with no issues. It's just when she gets over excited that she starts to spaz. She is going to go to obedience school. Still no answer to my question. The leash grabbing/shaking is the only time she does not respond. I have tried turning my back to ignore it as s recommended with unwanted behavior. No dice.Trust me, I am not a pushover with this dog. In one night we got her to sit in the other room quietly while we ate in the kitchen even tho she wants to be near me all the time. She sits before she can eat, before I give her attention when I get home, etc. more

Resolved Question: I really could use some men’s opinion, my husband has gone against everything he said he would do.?

To simplify this as much as possible: He bought a house and gutted it without asking me if it was ok. This is where we are living in 10 months he has gotten nothing done on the inside except for 30 sq feet and there is another 1570 sq feet that is not dried walled, insulated or anything…..It has bugs everywhere and we are in the woods so we even get midnight vistors: possums, squirrels etc… The outside looks like a dump pretty close to 5 acres worth. Our seven year old told me that when he gets married he doesn’t have to spend time with his family, because HIS dad does not. I’m really bothered by all of this. I have tried to help but I was sent home by Habitat for Humanity because I was so useful. Apparently I have no skills with building a home, much to my disappointment. I have painted the big 30 sq feet he managed to finish. This gets worse, he rarely talks to me, it is soooo depressing that the stress is so bad that I cry when ever I get two minutes to myself and our son is starting to act out and he is stressed and cries. My husband doesn’t have sex with me or kiss me or anything. On top of it all he isn’t making any money worth mentioning and we are barley surviving. In fact, we are past due on everything. He doesn’t want me to work! So here is what I’m going to purpose to him this evening and I want to know what you think. I’m going to take money that is mine and upcoming from a car accident. I have had several doctor friends tell me how to go to the hospital and have my bills taken care of. The hospital has basically already received half of the money due to them. I’m going to buy a car for no more than 5K. He sold mine to pay the mortgage. Then I’m taking the rest of the money and I have a guy in OH, where my family lives that is willing to rent me a nice, clean apartment for 6 months up front for $3000. It is a one bedroom but that is ok. I’m going to then rent a couch, queen bed and buy a used dresser when I get there. The only thing I’m taking with me is my child’s toys and clothes. I will get a job and my father and mother will help me with the care of him. This will give him 6 months to do something with the house or I won’t return. If he wants a divorce then he needs to clean up his mess and I will have it written in our divorce papers that I will receive half of the house’s value plus he will need to make sure all of the furniture that I bought and is in storage and new out of my personal money, that I had before we were married, needs to be sent up to us, within 3 months of the papers being filed. Does this sound fair? Mind you he has spent all of my personal savings, 401k money, retirement money and another 10k I had. I have nothing left but this one last check that is coming. Sincere comments are welcome. I’m going for tissue. And note out of the 10k he was supposed to renew his business license and pay for the taxes on the property. He did neither and those are past due as well. more

Resolved Question: please answer this, im at my wits end?

I really cant stand my boyfriends dad, hes so ignorant but constantly talks like he knows everything. he is a complete control freak when it comes to my boyfriend tom, but tom cant see this even thoe its so clear. my boyfriend works with his dad as a carpenter in a business that's clearly going nowhere, when tom was in school his dad would constantly take him out to go working, as a result my boyfriend failed his exams, he has told tom there is no need to get his papers to be a carpenter, this means that tom cant work with anybody else but his dad because technically hes not qualified. his dad constantly tricks tom into giving him money that tom worked hard for and convinces tom he ows him money all the time . for toms birthday his dad gave him his old broken motorbike, tom was so happy but it was so clear what his dad was doing and i knew exactly what would happen, tom bought all new parts for the bike and fixed it, but now his dad uses the bike all the time, tom has to ask to use his own bike. his dad tells tom not to tell me things about the business incase i repeated were they get the wood from, even though there getting the wood from a supplier that my mam recommended, he told tom not to tell me his wages (like im a fcking gold digger) and hes encouraged tom to lie to me about stupid things, and when tom bought his first car his dad wasnt happy and scammed tom into giving his dad the car. it took tom a year to get his car back. his dad is obsessed with money, its all he talks about, hes asked me and tom about our sex life, hes listened to us having sex, and hes listened to private converstaions and arguments between me and tom and stops talking to me for a week if me and tom fight. hes insulted my friends and made fun of them infront of me, he is a horrible, affensive man, i cant stand him, but i cant avoid him, iv tried to accept him, but i cant, I havnt told my boyfriend how i feel, only if his dad has really affened me, because I no it would start an argument between us. how do I learn to tolerate this man? oh and tom is 22 more

Voting Question: i need some business help?

Ok, well i want to make some bucks this summer and had this idea of possible starting a business. I want to make dog houses or maybe sheds. I am pretty certain i need a building permit for sheds but idk about dog houses. Any ideas or suggestions? I am trying to convince my mom to let me do this since i am only in high school. I have alot of experience working with wood and making structures. How can i promote my business? will it pay off? I have no clue when it comes to something like this. Also i have all the proper tools to do such a think. more

Resolved Question: Why waste money/earning on poor that won't help themselves?

I know poverty, I know it very well. I grew up in the over-the-rhine area of Cincinnati in the 1960 & 70's. We lived in a one room "apartment" that we lived Month to Month. At 16 my father threw me out (drunk) and I lived in the back-seat of a 1970 Nova that I bought for $300. I sprayed painted it red and it was home for 3 years. I put myself through school and I never missed a day, I still remember reading my diploma under a street light. I work at a Shell station pumpinjg gas and fixing flats & oil changes for $2.10 per hour(60 hrs per week) and took showers at Winton Woods Park in Hamilton county for .25 cents. I always felt blessed to have what I had, I never knew a Christmas morning or a birthday cake or present until I was 27 years old. I remember waking up and starting that Nova for heat in the winter, then shuting it off because I was paying .89 cents a gallon...LOL! I put myself through business school at Wright State U and started my own business. I never felt ripped off or I was robbed of life. I had air in my lungs and work whenever I wanted it and plenty of food (not the best) anytime I wanted. I never felt the government/taxpayers owed me anything...after all I provided everything I needed, I paid taxes every year. Today I own that same business with 12 full-time and 4 part-time. I have a beauitfil 5 bdm home 3/bath on 10 acres with even a fishing pond. I have 4 wonderful children that never knew a day that they wern't fiully loved and adored 24/7. I have the worlds most wonderful wife and have been happily (mostly...lol) for 27 years. I have a new car and always drive one as well as my wife. I have never allowed my minority status to cripple me, I have always been too busy living, loving, working to notice. NONE, of what I have done was because of me, it was this wonderful country called America! Today I watched a lady complaing how she wanted the government and other people to pay her mortage and bills, she lived in a 300K home. I couldn't help but to think.....she never got her 1970 Nova ...poor thing! We know these things.....why must we re-learn them?Ist answer: That's my point! If you GIVE things for free you ruin that man. A wise man once said: I would never ruin a man by giving money: JP Morgan more

Resolved Question: Does anyone want to buy Breyer Traditional Horse Accessories?

My friend and I started a business (Well, actually I started it and she is helping me so we are splitting the profits) where we make and sell tack, jumps, and other accessories for traditional sized model horses. We make the saddles and bridles out of real leather and the jumps out of wood, and I was wondering if anyone wanted to buy some. I need to make 300 dollars by June and I need to sell this stuff. For more info you can contact me at annasmodelhorseaccessories@gmail.com and I can send you pictures and price info. I really need this so I can full lease the horse I currently half lease for the summer. The only problem is the stirrups are made out of wire on the english saddles. They work, but I need to improve on that aspect of the design. If you have any ideas as to how I could please email me at the email above. more

Resolved Question: How many federal departments have failed to protect the public?

FDA and poison peanut butter, FCC and toxic loans, Justice Dept and torture and spying on citizens, etc.etc. Since the Patriot Act and bank deregulation things have gone to hell. Blame Clinton and Bush. Now what can Obama do? Well, start spending trillions for a stop gap stimulus that commonsense says is an attempt to do just what Bush tried with his useless $150 stimulus that had absolutely effect. It was not detectable in the economy. Borrowed money wasted but owed plus interest. There is a pattern here and it is not good and makes no sense. Jobs drying up by the millions and unemployment spending shooting up. No, we will not wait until nothing is left to regroup. These are not professional, rationale decisions, these are shots in the dark and do not hit the mark. We are getting set up for a collosal diaster with people loading up with their bibles and guns and regrouping in the woods to wait them out, even when they bring in more and more labor and engineers to work for less. Super rich just want more cheaper replacements from other countries. Phasing out the long term expensive labor. Corporate welfare for their cronies and illegals working for slave labor. Cheap labor and displacement of those who get a decent wage. This wrong and immoral. I blame both Dems and Reps with identical agendas. The tradional work force cost too much so toss them. Kick them to the curb instead for doing R&D to engineer products people really want to buy. These arrogant SOBs have one solution, import cheaper workers. Plain and simple by bad, unimaginative managment like GM. Bad business and all this while jacking up boness and salaries out of reality. Anything goes with these rats, just like Enron and concentrating on cutting expenses on he backs of labor. Eventually, there will blood and guts over these business decisions. These people are courting a massive revolt that will not turn back once the shooting starts. It will be too late then. We need the troops to come home and protect their friends and family, not the arrogant, greed politicians. I wish he troops would load up and return home to back down the corruption, help get them indicted and hanged. more

Resolved Question: My brother's not exactly with it and I'm a lesbian?

I love the guy and he’s one of my best friends; but my brother isn’t making things the simplest for me. He’s such a nice guy, but he’s not exactly the most motivated. He’s a college grad, but works as a telemarketer and lives on his friend’s couch in the living room. I know the economy’s bad right now, but he graduated three years ago and doesn’t seem too concerned of the situation. My family is full of business men who either run companies or started their own, so my brother’s not going over real well with my dad at the moment. It’s just my brother and I for the kids. I was hoping my brother would be motivated, get a good job (he could take over my dad’s company if he wanted or at least be partners) and have a family. He was dating a great and career-ambitious girl and lived with her for a year but she broke up with him over a year ago. I’ve always seemed to be on the outs with my dad, and he doesn’t even know I’m gay yet. I love my dad, but we’ve always had a strange relationship. He’s always been so critical of me and nothing I seem to do is good enough for him. But he seems to leave my brother alone. He always seems to vent at me, whether it be if he's mad at my mom or something at work. He's never hit me, but it's more like I'm an emotional punching bag. My dad has had bad examples: his dad and uncles were businessmen and would host corporate functionings. The wives were in charge of the planning and basically were treated like servants to these men. Honestly, my dad sees me as a servant. He’s never asked much of my brother and expects my mom and me to take care of all of the house choirs since he’s the money provider. Since my brother isn’t much of a worker, I also got stuck with a lot of “man’s work,” such as mowing the lawn and cutting brush, splitting wood, painting, repairing fences ect. This along with the typical housework—cooking, cleaning, and so on. I guess this is a complement, but my dad once told me I’d make the perfect housewife since I’m so capable. I realize this is my brother’s life and I can’t make him change nor do I intend to do so. He doesn’t know I’m a lesbian so I can’t just say to him, “Hey I’m a lesbian. I’m never going to live up to our parent’s expectations so you need to get your act together since it’s only the two of us.” I can’t tell my family now. My dad has a tendency to belittle me, so I have to be confident in myself: such as having an established career and living on my own once I graduate from college. I need to feel like I’m successful because I know what criticisms I’ll get. I’m just looking for any insight or suggestions on this situation. I don’t want to criticize my brother because people have been very critical of me and I know how terrible it feels. I can only control my own actions and no one else around me. I'm just afraid my brother's situation will be taken out on me along with my dad's disapprovement of being gay. more

Resolved Question: I'm a mom of three young kids and I'm about to go crazy. Is this a typical mom thing or am I the only one?

First off, let me just say that my husband and I are two very level headed people who discipline our children and raise them the best way we know how but from time to time run into things where we need some advice. This is one of those times. My husband and I have three kids who are 8, 5 and 3. Here lately it seems that all they do is fight and pick on each other which means constant screaming and crying and yelling, etc. When they're getting along and playing, they're running non-stop through the house screaming and yelling. It's like it's impossible for them to sit and play quietly. They can't even sit and watch cartoons for longer than 5 min. w/out arguing or picking on each other. We have 18 ft. ceilings in our living room with wood floors so it echoes big time which makes the noise ALOT louder. I try to be patient with them, and try to derail the chaos before losing my temper but they don't listen to me until I get "mean" with them, meaning shouting at the top of my lungs just to get them to stop and listen to me. Literally, my kids have no off switch and are constantly on the go from sun up to sundown. It's as if they never get tired. We watch the amount of sugar they have and also they get no caffeine (lord, can't imagine what it would be like then). My husband and I have tried everything that we know to do. Timeouts, spankings, grounding/taking toys away, pretty much all to no avail. I try to get them to settle down repeatedly and they pretty much ignore me until I start shouting like a lunatic almost like they don't hear me until I yell at the top of my lungs "STOP"!!. That's effective but only for about 10 minutes until they see that I've regained my sanity then it's up and away again. One thing that does work is that they know I mean business when I start counting to 3. When I do that, they always do what they're told before I hit 3. But then five mintues later, we're back to the chaos again. We love our children very much and we want our time with them to be enjoyable and not constant yelling or getting on to them. I want to be patient with them but at the same time have them pay attention to me and know that I mean business. In the summer, I just send them outside to play. A great place to run, scream and be loud. I try to give them things to do like play-doh, coloring, crafts, stuff like that but it's not long before they start fighting because somebody won't share a marker or a piece of play-doh. With both me and my husband working full time jobs, it's important to us to make the time we have with our kids enjoyable, not playing the part of the mean mom or the mean dad. Although I will say that husband probably has alot more patience that I do. I'm seriously fantasizing about sending them to a relative's house after the holidays for a few days just to give me a break, and in reality probably the kids a break too. However, I need to know how to address the problem itself. Or is this just something that kids go through that me and their dad will have to wait out? I have no idea. We realize that brothers/sisters will fight. Just a fact of life. I can deal with that. I just can't deal with it on a constant basis. Perhaps it's as easy as having my doc up my miligrams of Zoloft. LOL...no seriously. Anyway, any suggestions from people who have experienced this would be greatly appreciated. How do us parents keep our sanity when our kids do things, even if unintentionally, to make us go insane? Only serious answers please. If you're only interested in making rude, nonsensical remarks, please don't waste your time or mine. more

Resolved Question: Why did this insurance agent try to push me into buying an expensive alarm system I don't need?

I just bought a homeowner's insurance policy for a house my husband and I just purchased. I bought our policy over the phone from a well respected company I will not mention because of their good service overall. The agent I dealt with was absolutely insistent that my husband and I install a monitored home security system in our house because we would get (a rather paltry) discount on our policy. I tried to explain to the rep that paying for the system, including monitoring would never pay off even if we were robbed because we don't have many things someone would want to steal. Other than an off brand flat screen TV (that's chained with a lock under its base to a very heavy solid wood TV console and we're even thinking about attaching that to the floor joists), an inexpensive DVD player, a shelf of DVD's mostly bought from the bargain bin at Wal-Mart and a couple of cheap laptops (that don't even have Windows installed on them, we're Linux users) there's not much of value. She kept saying that what would we do if we were hit by $20,000 in loss from a burglary. Including a motorcycle and 2 cars (all insured for theft); we would be lucky if everything we have to our name, other than the house is worth that much! Plus, we live in a rural area in Alabama with a low break-in rate; I checked county crime stats for the past 10 years and we're well below the national average. The nosy neighbors don't hurt either :) In order to break into the house you would have to get through a standard door lock, two deadbolts on each solid core security grade entry door, various window locks and avoid setting off wireless threshold motion sensors on all exterior doors and windows that let off an ear drum bursting screech that would deafen anyone within 100 feet. I work from home so I'm literally in the house all day and anyone dumb enough to break in would run a pretty high risk of getting a .22 shoved in their face anyway. The rep was still insistent that we "needed" an alarm even after hearing all of that. I couldn't get it through her head that it doesn't and probably will never pay for me to own an alarm system. She then started going over my auto policy and mentioned that it would be a wise idea to put a Lojack or Onstar system on my two vehicles because of another paltry discount! My husband and I own a 1992 Pontiac Bonneville and a 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup; which are probably the last vehicles anyone would want to steal. She just didn't get it that some people live frugally and only buy what they actually need. She also seemed to take great offense when I told her that I thought it was dumb to spend $1000 on an alarm system, plus monitoring fees to protect a few thousand dollars worth of stuff in a low crime area in a house thats already locked tighter than Fort Knox and practically under armed guard! My dad's obsessed with home defense so I learned how to use a gun when I was 14. I'm 22 and this was by far the most annoying experience I've had in the whole home buying process! I would have hung up on her but I needed the insurance paperwork sent to my mortgage company before the end of the business day. The insurance company I'm using doesn't even have any connection to these other companies whatsoever! I don't get it. Is this woman completely crazy?  more

Resolved Question: I'm having trouble with a few Siddhartha questions! Please help?

sorry the numbers are mixed up. these are just the ones i'm having trouble with. I have read the book but it's been a while so i have forgotten some of these answers. Amongst the People 4. What makes Siddhartha good at business? Why might he be an excellent partner for Kamaswami? 5. What does his four day trip to the village show about Siddhartha? 8. How are Siddhartha and Kamala similiar? Samsara 8. Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Why out of that last trip? By the River 5. What does Sidd start lecturing his friend about? Symbolism How does the river work as a symbol? The Son 1. What about Sidd would make him a lousy father? 2. How does young Sidd take advntage of the father? 4. Why doesn’t he punish the boy? 5. Why is the river laughing? 9. In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained? Om 1. What “wound” does Siddhartha have? What is the different light that he sees people in? 5. Where does Vasudeva go? (Not just the woods) Thought Although there is one more chapter left to go, the ultimate realization has come in this one. What is it? Govinda 3. Why doesn’t Sidd have a doctrine? How can wisdom not be communicable? Can you communicate knowledge? Thought question Could Sidd have become a Buddha while sitting next to a freeway instead of a river?  more

Resolved Question: Can anyone help me answer some of these Siddhartha questions? (this is not homework)?

Amongst the People 3. In your own words and thoughtfully, what did Kamala teach him? 4. What makes Siddhartha good at business? Why might he be an excellent partner for Kamaswami? 5. What does his four day trip to the village show about Siddhartha? How could that be good business? 6. What does Siddhartha’s inner voice say? How is life “flowing past” him? 7. What do you suppose a Samana heart is? 8. How are Siddhartha and Kamala similiar? Samsara Introduction Sidd is starting to get tired of it all. Questions 2. What had Siddhartha learned (important stuff) 3. What happened when the property finally became chain and a burden? 4. How does his dice playing echo his real life? 5. What was his Kamala dream about? 6. What was the Bird dream about? 7. Why does he feel dead? 8. Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Why out of that last trip? By the River Introduction Suicide is painless... Questions 1. Why does Sidd wish to kill himself? 2. What is the tone of this section. is it entirely serious? 3. What sound does he here? How does he react? 4. How is he different when he wakes up? Who is sitting with him? 5. What does Sidd start lecturing his friend about? Symbolism How does the river work as a symbol? The Son Introduction Now, the strangest chapter of the book. The shoe is on the other foot. Questions 1. What about Sidd would make him a lousy father? 2. How does young Sidd take advntage of the father? 3. What does he try and do for his son? Why won’t it work? 4. Why doesn’t he punish the boy? 5. Why is the river laughing? How has Siddhartha gotten his own? 6. How can love be “Samsara”? 7. Why does the son hate the father? 8. Why did he break the oar? 9. In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained? Om Introduction Vasudeva finally gets what he deserves. Questions 1. What “wound” does Siddhartha have? What is the different light that he sees people in? 2. What has been his biggest change since becoming a ferryman? As a result, how does the tone of the book change? 3. What does the river do when Sidd goes to see his son? Whoe reflection does he see? 4. Siddhartha and Vasudeva listen very, very closely to the river. What do they hear? Why is everything interconnected? 5. Where does Vasudeva go? (Not just the woods) Thought Although there is one more chapter left to go, the ultimate realization has come in this one. What is it? Govinda Introduction Sidd prepares for his final trip; his apotheosis. And he gets an old visitor. Questions 1. Why is there still restlessness in Govinda’s heart? 2. What is wrong with seeking, according to Sidd? 3. Why doesn’t Sidd have a doctrine? How can wisdom not be communicable? Can you communicate knowledge? 4. What is the symbolism of the stone? 5. How can Nirvana and Samsara be the same? What does this show about Sidd’s final change? Thought question Could Sidd have become a Buddha while sitting next to a freeway instead of a river?  more

Resolved Question: Can anyone answer some of these siddhartha questions?

Amongst the People 3. In your own words and thoughtfully, what did Kamala teach him? 4. What makes Siddhartha good at business? Why might he be an excellent partner for Kamaswami? 5. What does his four day trip to the village show about Siddhartha? How could that be good business? 6. What does Siddhartha’s inner voice say? How is life “flowing past” him? 7. What do you suppose a Samana heart is? 8. How are Siddhartha and Kamala similiar? Samsara Introduction Sidd is starting to get tired of it all. Questions 2. What had Siddhartha learned (important stuff) 3. What happened when the property finally became chain and a burden? 4. How does his dice playing echo his real life? 5. What was his Kamala dream about? 6. What was the Bird dream about? 7. Why does he feel dead? 8. Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Why out of that last trip? By the River Introduction Suicide is painless... Questions 1. Why does Sidd wish to kill himself? 2. What is the tone of this section. is it entirely serious? 3. What sound does he here? How does he react? 4. How is he different when he wakes up? Who is sitting with him? 5. What does Sidd start lecturing his friend about? Symbolism How does the river work as a symbol? The Son Introduction Now, the strangest chapter of the book. The shoe is on the other foot. Questions 1. What about Sidd would make him a lousy father? 2. How does young Sidd take advntage of the father? 3. What does he try and do for his son? Why won’t it work? 4. Why doesn’t he punish the boy? 5. Why is the river laughing? How has Siddhartha gotten his own? 6. How can love be “Samsara”? 7. Why does the son hate the father? 8. Why did he break the oar? 9. In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained? Om Introduction Vasudeva finally gets what he deserves. Questions 1. What “wound” does Siddhartha have? What is the different light that he sees people in? 2. What has been his biggest change since becoming a ferryman? As a result, how does the tone of the book change? 3. What does the river do when Sidd goes to see his son? Whoe reflection does he see? 4. Siddhartha and Vasudeva listen very, very closely to the river. What do they hear? Why is everything interconnected? 5. Where does Vasudeva go? (Not just the woods) Thought Although there is one more chapter left to go, the ultimate realization has come in this one. What is it? Govinda Introduction Sidd prepares for his final trip; his apotheosis. And he gets an old visitor. Questions 1. Why is there still restlessness in Govinda’s heart? 2. What is wrong with seeking, according to Sidd? 3. Why doesn’t Sidd have a doctrine? How can wisdom not be communicable? Can you communicate knowledge? 4. What is the symbolism of the stone? 5. How can Nirvana and Samsara be the same? What does this show about Sidd’s final change? Thought question Could Sidd have become a Buddha while sitting next to a freeway instead of a river? this is not homework more

Resolved Question: can anyone answer some of these siddhartha quesetions? (not homework)?

Amongst the People Introduction After ”ascending the tree” Siddhartha decides he likes his new world. Questions Answer the following questions. 1. How does Siddhartha take control of the interview? 2. For all of his holy skills, in the end, why does Kamaswami hire him? 3. In your own words and thoughtfully, what did Kamala teach him? 4. What makes Siddhartha good at business? Why might he be an excellent partner for Kamaswami? 5. What does his four day trip to the village show about Siddhartha? How could that be good business? 6. What does Siddhartha’s inner voice say? How is life “flowing past” him? 7. What do you suppose a Samana heart is? 8. How are Siddhartha and Kamala similiar? Samsara Introduction Sidd is starting to get tired of it all. Questions Answer the following questions. 1. Does Sidd have a bad life? What is good about it? 2. What had Siddhartha learned (important stuff) 3. What happened when the property finally became chain and a burden? 4. How does his dice playing echo his real life? 5. What was his Kamala dream about? 6. What was the Bird dream about? 7. Why does he feel dead? 8. Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Why out of that last trip? Symbolism This chapter uses at least three major symbols or similes. What are they? Explain. By the River Introduction Suicide is painless... Questions Answer the following questions fully. 1. Why does Sidd wish to kill himself? 2. What is the tone of this section. is it entirely serious? 3. What sound does he here? How does he react? 4. How is he different when he wakes up? Who is sitting with him? 5. What does Sidd start lecturing his friend about? Symbolism How does the river work as a symbol? The Ferryman Introduction Don’t pay the Ferryman.... Questions Think Kamala has a pretty weak role. How would the story be different if she were stronger? What would happen if she had a sense of humor? The Son Introduction Now, the strangest chapter of the book. The shoe is on the other foot. Questions Answer the following questions fully. 1. What about Sidd would make him a lousy father? 2. How does young Sidd take advntage of the father? 3. What does he try and do for his son? Why won’t it work? 4. Why doesn’t he punish the boy? 5. Why is the river laughing? How has Siddhartha gotten his own? 6. How can love be “Samsara”? 7. Why does the son hate the father? 8. Why did he break the oar? 9. In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained? Thought When I read this chapter, I laugh at Sidd’s troubles. Whyat is ironic about his losses? Om Introduction Vasudeva finally gets what he deserves. Questions Answer the following questions fully. 1. What “wound” does Siddhartha have? What is the different light that he sees people in? 2. What has been his biggest change since becoming a ferryman? As a result, how does the tone of the book change? 3. What does the river do when Sidd goes to see his son? Whoe reflection does he see? 4. Siddhartha and Vasudeva listen very, very closely to the river. What do they hear? Why is everything interconnected? 5. Where does Vasudeva go? (Not just the woods) Thought Although there is one more chapter left to go, the ultimate realization has come in this one. What is it? Govinda Introduction Sidd prepares for his final trip; his apotheosis. And he gets an old visitor. Questions Answer the following questions fully. 1. Why is there still restlessness in Govinda’s heart? 2. What is wrong with seeking, according to Sidd? 3. Why doesn’t Sidd have a doctrine? How can wisdom not be communicable? Can you communicate knowledge? 4. What is the symbolism of the stone? 5. How can Nirvana and Samsara be the same? 6. What does Govinda see Siddhartha do? What does this show about Sidd’s final change? Thought question Could Sidd have become a Buddha while sitting next to a freeway instead of a river?  more

Resolved Question: Anyone familiar with college management class..intro to business...doing case studies?

i'm confused on how to do the case study. Mark Juarez Case What to Make of a New Product In March 1991 Mark Juarez, an American, was living in Berlin, Germany, where he worked under contract as a masseur. He had invented a product that he found helpful in his work and was considering what to do with it. The product consisted of five wooden balls, four small ones approximately one inch in diameter that were connected to a larger one, about two inches in diameter, with wooden dowels that angled out about one inch each form the bottom of the large ball, as can be seen in the sketch of Exhibit 1. In use, the product was gripped by a masseur as an aid in transmitting pressure to the client, reducing the strain on the masseur’s hand while applying the pressure more firmly at the same time. It had been well-received by a few of Mark’s colleagues, to whom he had given copies, and by their customers. How, he wondered, should he apply his time and very limited personal financial resources? Should he pursue licensing, manufacturing, patenting or investigating whether there were already other such products on the market, and if so with what sequence of specific actions? Or should he simply stick to his massage work and let his simple product find its own way into whatever market might or might not exist? What would be involved in creating a company to produce and sell it, and how might such things best be done, if that were the chosen path? Background Mark had held a number of different jobs prior to his present occupation. In the mid-1970s he studied marketing at Chabot Community College in California while working nine months for a wine company followed by seven months with ARA Services, a national company providing laundry services for institutions and restaurants. In early 1977 he began working in sales for a company that marketed energy efficient air conditioning systems for the home. Although successful, Mark felt by 1978 that his life was unrewarding and his lifestyle incompatible with his ideas. He took an unexpected leave for two weeks and just drove up and down the West Coast. He then decided to quit his job and flew to Europe to travel and explore. Ten of the next 15 years, he spent in Europe working odd jobs in his travels. Whenever he ran out of money, he would go back to America and work to save enough to go back to Europe. During these return visits to the United States, he started a landscaping company, sold for a company that made “environmentally correct” living/work spaces, and participated in other small ventures. In Berlin during 1987 Mark became interested in massage. At first, he thought it would be difficult to learn locally, since he did not speak German and did not have much money to pay for massage classes. But a massage teacher who encouraged him to learn more about massage explained that massage could be learned regardless the language barrier, because massage was about touch and the body, both universal subjects. To further encourage Mark, the massage teacher offered him a job at the massage school. By year end Mark was a certified massage therapist. Eventually, he too became a massage teacher. He also learned that traditional techniques of massage were very tiring to the hands. Many massage therapists developed carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful illness of the hands and forearms. One February morning in 1991, through a vision in a dream, Mark conceived of a device that might help with his work. He envisaged a wooden ball with four wooden legs and little wooden balls on the ends of each leg. He also envisioned having a smiley face on the big wooden ball. He told a friend of his idea and she encouraged him to go to a “wood dollar,” a person who carves wood on a lathe, who could make the pieces for his design. With the help of a wood dollar, some prototypes were completed, and Mark tried them on his students. The students said they loved the device and the following week requested more copies of it for their friends. Mark built more, and enthusiasm and demand for the new massage tool increased. Because of this student interest Mark began to think about protecting his design idea by seeking a patent. He visited an American patent attorney in Berlin. The patent attorney quoted a cost of $4000 for “researching” the patent. This task was not to be confused with actually filing to receive a patent on the new device. It would simply look through the records of prior American patents to ascertain whether the same product features had been patented in the U.S. before. If it had not, then Mark could try to obtain a patent, which would cost considerably more. Should he, as a result, be granted a patent, he would then have the right to sue anyone who imitated the product in the country where the patent was issued and claim that they were violating his patent. If the patent court then agreed, he could prevent further such imitationQuestions: Case Study Questions Provide thoughtful and complete answers (minimum of 3 double spaced pages to maximum of 5 double spaced pages total for the entire assignment) to the questions below. Use your textbook chapters, powerpoint slides or any other material covered in the course to frame your answers. 1)Rate the company on the dimensions below: Rating 1 to 5 (1 is Highest and 5 is lowest) Provide an explanation and defense of your rating for each dimension. Strength of the New Venture Team/Organizational Leaders: A significant part of the success (or failure) of an organization is often attributable to the organization’s leaders. Thus, assessing their abilities/capabilities can provide insight into the ultimate success or failure of a company. Strength of the Opportunity: Whether or not there is a significant and identifiable market is also of great importance to the success or failure of an organization.Strength of the Industry: Organizational research tells us that about 20% of a firm’s performance can be explained by the attractiveness (or unattractiveness) of the industry in which the firm competes. Thus, an understanding of industry forces which affect the firm is important. Use the powerpoint slides which discuss Porter’s Five Forces to answer this section. Strength of the Business Model: Ultimately, the organization must make money in order to survive and grow. Provide some insight on whether you feel this company has a strong or weak business model. Use the powerpoint slides on the Business Model as a guide. 2)Provide 3 changes/adjustments the company should/could make in their current strategy in order to gain more effective results. more

Resolved Question: okay long story but PLEASE READ?

I do not know if this is an isurance question, a lawyer question, a small business question, or a ????? Here's the story: honestly...all sides not just mine My husband works for a windows compnay. He installs windows. He is a sub-contractor. He has his own general libility and workers comp insureance plans. He recently did a job on a mobil home. He did not seal the windows enough or correctly. He has never done a mobil home and was not aware of the extra stuff that needed to be done. Right after he finished the work he was told that the windows were leaking in rain. He went out and fixed them, properly. He didn't just seal them. he actually bought extra wood and all kinds of stuff to make sure they were good, even though wood and all that was not in the contract. The home owners were origianlly replacing the windows because they were leaky. He got a call saying that the water casued the installation, the paneling, the outlets, and the refrisgator to mess up. He bought them a refridgetapor, even though they said theirs was never in good condition. He bought and replacerd the paneling and instation also. He had two electricaians to look at the wiring and electircl work. 1 was someone we hired, and one guy was a freind of the home owners. Our guy said water could not casue these problems. Their guy said "uou will not believe how many times I have been out here trying to fix there wiring problems". " They have 6 outlets running to where only 3 are suppose to be". So my husband left there after working for 2 days totaling 20 free hours of labor. They were on good terms and the homeowners were happy. They even gave my husband some free dvds for our kids to watch. Before he gets home, he gets a call saying that now their tv isn't working and the water that leaked it that week must have casued it. We spent his whole check on their house, and my husband spent his whole weekend there. We didn't even have money to pay our own bills. We had to borrow and bum food all week. We first beleived that it was our respaonsiblity. Even after hearing about their prior problems, we wanted to help them as much as we could and give them the benfit of the doubt. My husband spoke with his boss, over his manger who origianlly sent him out there. He said for my husband to not do anything more out there.said he would hire an electrician and if they have any sign of proir problems that he would not make my husband worry about it or fix it. He said they would just have to sue and stop trying to get all they can. At this point, we were okay with the bosses desision. We felt as if we did ever thing we could and now that we were being taking advantage of. The folowing week the boss went out there. He tried to reach my husband on his cell but it was dead. My husband went to work the next day and the manger told him that he could not have any more work until he makes them homeowners happy. He said they now want a new computer, a new tv, wiring ran, and money for pain and suffering becasue the can't sleep well now. We have 5 kids and no money. My husband used his last check to fix there house and now he can't get another check until he spends $20,000 on the homeowners whose hosue isn't even worth $20,000. What are we going to do? Through all of this, our bills are getting behide, my husband is basically unemployed, we have 5 kid, we have a mortgage, and no money for a lawyer. This is so confusing, that we don't where to start. oh, and the veridict of the lincensed electrician that the company owner/boss sent out there said they already had a few problems but the water damaged has made that a bigger problem. I just want my husband to have a job and not look like a bad person becasue a window leaked and it just so happened that the homeowners are the type that will get all they can something. I want the company owner/boss and the manager to understand that we don't have any moeny to fix more stuff and that we need this job. I want the homeowner to be happy and have exactly what they stated with and nothing more. Where do I start? Thanks for reading about the worst day of my lifewill the fact that he has already worked on the house, stop the insurance from being able to do their thing? We figured he could fix them right up and that would be that. If we knew we were going to have to contact the insurance compnay, then we wouldn't have touched anything. His manager told him to go out there and fix it, so he went. more

Resolved Question: What is the best way to start and advertise a new business?

My uncle is a very talented wood worker. He can make custom cabinets, tables, chairs, entertainment centers, you name it, he can make it. He has worked at a cabinet shop for years and has practically made his boss man rich. Well, now his boss man is talking about retiring in a couple of years and my unc will be out of a job. He wants to go into business for himself but is unsure how. Any suggestions? Should we start a website? Please help. more

Resolved Question: how do they get away with all this & where di I stand?

To whom this may concern... In October 2007 I started renting (and signed a minimun five year lease) a house in Innisfil on the fifth line, from a mojor corperation located in toronto somewhere. It is a numbered Ontario company. The rent was to be paid to a realestate agent in Alcona.(In a century 21 ) I have been asking for my lease on many occassions in which I was unsuccessful. (he had forgetten, couldn:t catch me), or perhaps just did not care..I have been down to his office on many occassions also to just get it, He was never there and the ladies at the front desk said that they had no access to his office. .My issue is that I have lived in this same home since I was ten years old, with a different landlord, I am now 35. On April the 28th as I was upstairs cleaning, a black dodge pick-up came down my driveway,and parked in my parking spot two men got out and started to dress in their hunting cloths, continued as they pulled their shotguns from their cases and loaded them. They proceeded to walk through my front yard and between my barns in which I also rent, as was in my lease.. This is where I should have dialed 911 right...But no I interfeared by going out my front door and asking them what they thought they were doing.. I was told by one of the people that I only rent the house and they were going hunting. I told them they were tresspassing and they had no right to be on the property that I was renting, This turned into an arguement and when I told them there was such things as respect, he was very angry at this point... He finally revealed that he was infact the land owner... and showed me his I.D. I repeated my self and point blank told him that as a londlord he should respect his tennants, hunter ethics are not parking and and carrying loaded guns through your tennants yard.where their children and animals play (Thats not acceptable) that I was still waiting for my lease,and getting tired of chasing the agent for it and that he still had no business parked in my driveway..Let alone argueing with me on my poarch with his loaded gun over his shoulde I was very uncompfortable at this point so I told him that I was not happy and could have called 911 first for tresspassing and then because I have never seen him before I could have thought he was a nut bar. God I could have been killed. What was I thinking.. He said that he thought it was the obandoned house next door that was rented, ya right I am not stupid I said, when you pull into a driveway and see a Jonh Deer ride on lawn mower, a covered skidoo, cut grass, wood pile still from winter with an axe and trailer still there,my daughters pet gaot running around the yard, and new barqicue on the porch no on lives here.( I guess people just move and leave their expensive bolongings at their old house right.) I told them they could leave and next time I would call 911, They threw thier guns in the truck and left. Monday I called the agent and asked him for my lease again, He said he had talked to the land owner and that I had put myself in a very bad situation, so I told him what had happened on the Saturday and that if he had come to the door first( like most ethical hunters do) and said who he was there probably would not have been the problem. He said he needed to talk with the land owner about the lease. I told him it was his legel obligation to give me the lease I had signed a least 21 days after I signed it, and there would be no more rent till I get it. I would be in his office at 6:30 Wednesday to pick it up.On the way home I went to the Innisfil police department to have what happened Saturday documented. When I got to the agents office after work Wednesday he was not there. The lady at the desk said he wanted me to call him. so we did. now apparently there was not giong to be a lease, so I demanded the papers (lease) I signed back in October. Apparently I must be delusional, I signed a lease and he says I never signed anything and I do not know what I am talking about. Then he hung up after telling me that the land lord is going to tear down my home. Wednesday May 1st I went into Barrie and filed papers with the land lords and tennant act. When I got home there was a red van in my driveway, I pulled up infront of them, they backed down my driveway and parked ON my grass, I asked then to please get off the grass and turn around on the driveway.( thats why we have one) He bluntly stated he was being considerate to let me pass, (by driving on my grass) (they must be related) The people in the van would not give me their names so I took the plate number and modle of their vehicle. When I got to my door there was an envelope in the corner. Great my eviction notice. I now have 120 days to be out of my home, where I have lived since I was 10. My daughter was born here and has almost completed all her schooling thank god for that. But the issue still stands that How do I win making minimum wage fighting a multi million dollar corporation? All was great till I told the land owner I did not want him going through my yard with a loaded weapon. Why should these people get away with what they have done and are doing to myself and my family. Thet have endangered myself and my family aswell as my pets, and have made me feel very insecure in my own home.. How do I leave my daughter home alone when people keep showing up, with the possability of the owner showing up again to go hunting. This all boils down to because I refused to let him tromp through my rented yard with his loaded gun, now hes going to demolish the home in which I reside. All feed back is greatly appreciated, please e mail me with your help and info.... concerned tennant. missdoolittle666@hotmail.com more

Resolved Question: Whos havin a bad day?

THINK YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY.... check it out these actual cases. Fire authorities in California found a corpse in a burned-out section of forest while assessing the damage done by a forest fire. The deceased male was dressed in a full wet suit, complete with scuba tanks on his back, flippers, and face mask. A postmortem test revealed that the man died not from burns, but from massive internal injuries. Dental records provided a positive identification. Investigators then set about to determine how a fully clothed diver ended up in the middle of a forest fire. It was revealed that on the day of the fire, the man went diving off the coast, some 20 miles from the forest. The fire fighters, seeking to control the fire as quickly as possible, had called in a fleet of helicopters with very large dip buckets. Water was dipped from the ocean and emptied at the site of the forest fire. You guessed it. One minute our diver was making like Flipper in the Pacific, the next, he was doing the breast stroke in a fire dip bucket 300 feet in the air. Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed. ___________________________________________ Still think you're having a bad day? A man was working on his motorcycle on the patio, his wife nearby in the kitchen. While racing the engine, the motorcycle accidentally slipped into gear. The man, still holding onto the handlebars, was dragged along as it burst through the glass patio doors. His wife, hearing the crash, ran in the room to find her husband cut and bleeding, the motorcycle, and the shattered patio door. She called for an ambulance and, because the house sat on a fairly large hill, went down the several flights of stairs to meet the paramedics and escort them to her husband. While the attendants were loading her husband, the wife managed to right the motorcycle and push it outside. She also quickly blotted up the spilled gasoline with some paper towels and tossed them into the toilet. After being treated and released, the man returned home, looked at the shattered patio door and the damage done to his motorcycle. He went into the bathroom and consoled himself with a cigarette while attending to his business. About to stand, he flipped the butt between his legs. The wife, who was in the kitchen, heard a loud explosion and her husband screaming. Finding him lying on the bathroom floor with his trousers blown away and burns on his buttocks, legs and groin, she once again phoned for an ambulance. The same paramedic crew was dispatched. As the paramedics carried the man down the stairs to the ambulance they asked the wife how he had come to burn himself. She told them. They started laughing so hard, one slipped, the stretcher and dumping the husband out. He fell down the remaining stairs, breaking his arm. ______________________________________________ Still having a bad day? Just remember, it could be worse... The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both. _____________________________________________ Still think you are having a bad day? A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman. _______________________________________________ STILL think you're having a bad day? Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn, Germany. Suddenly, all two thousand pigs broke loose and escaped through a broken fence, stampeding madly The two hopeless protesters were trampled to death. ____________________________________________ What?! STILL having a bad day?? Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with "return to sender" stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits. There now, feeling better? more

Resolved Question: Is this legal?

MAKE THOUSANDS WITH ONLY $6.00 Investment!!! HOW TO MAKE QUICK CASH IN WEEKS FOR ONLY $6.00!! I found this on a bulletin board and decided to try it. I was browsing through news groups, just like you are now, and came across an article similar to this that said you can make thousands of dollars within weeks with only an initial investment of $6.00!! So, I thought, "Yeah right, this must be a scam," but like most of us, I was curious, so I kept reading. Anyway, it said that you send $1.00 to each of the six names and addresses stated in the article. You then place your own name and address in the bottom of the list at $6.00, and post the article in at least 200 news groups. No catch that was it. So after thinking it over, and talking to a few people first, I thought about trying it. I figured, "What have I got to lose; except six stamps and $6.00 right?" Then I invested the measly $6.00. WELL GUESS WHAT!!!..Within seven days, I started getting money in the mail!! I was shocked!! Let me tell you how and why this works. I promise you that if you follow th directions exactly that you will start making more money than you thought possible by doing something so easy!! Follow the simple directions and watch the money come in!! It's easy. It's legal. And, your investment is only $6.00 (Plus postage) ! IMPORTANT: This is not a rip-off, it is decent; it's legal; and it is virtually no risk - If all the following instructions are adhered to, you will receive extraordinary dividends. This program remains successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants. Please continue its success by carefully adhering to the instructions. You will now become apart of the Mail Order business. You are in the business of developing Mailing Lists. Many large= corporations are happy to pay big bucks for quality lists. However, the money made from the mailing lists is secondary to income which is made from people like you and me asking to be included in that list. Here are the three easy steps to success. STEP one: Get six separate pieces of paper and write the following on each piece of paper "PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST." Now get 6 U.S. $1.00 bills and place ONE inside of EACH of the six pieces of paper so the bill will not be seen through the envelope (to prevent thievery). Next, place one paper in each of the six envelopes and seal them. You now should have six sealed envelopes, each with a piece of paper stating the above phrase, your name and address, and a $1.00 bill. What you are doing is creating a service. You are requesting a legitimate service and you are paying for it!! Like most of us I was a little skeptical and little worried about the legal aspects of it all. So I checked it out with the U.S. Post Office (1-800-125- 2161) and they confirmed that it is indeed legal! Mail the six envelopes to the following addresses: 1)Isaiah Cross, 994 West Kendall, corona. CA 91720 2)R.I. De Tienne, 516 36th st., newport Beach, CA 92663 3) Ranson Bishop, Rt. 1 Box 204, Amoret, MO 64722 4) Dennis Ribble, RR3 Box 32-1b, Benton PA 17814 5)Mark Cornell, 5690 Louisville, RD. Lot 187, Bowling Green KY 42101 6)Tom Wood P.O. Box 173 Machiasport, ME 04655 STEP two: Now take the 1 name off the list that you see above, move the other names up (six becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, and etc.) and add YOUR NAME as number 6 on the list. STEP three: Now post your amended article to at least 200 news groups. All you need is 200, but remember, the more you post, the more money you make!! This perfectly legal!! If you have any doubts, refer to Title 18 Sec. 1302 & 1341 of the Postal lottery laws. Keep a copy of these steps for yourself and whenever you need money, you can use it again, and again. NOTE: You may want to retain every name and address sent to you, and keep the notes people send you. This VERIFIES that you are truly providing a service. So, as each post is downloaded and the directions carefully followed, all members will be reimbursed for their participation as a List Developer with one dollar each. Your name will move up the list geometrically so that when your name reaches the 1 position you will be receiving thousands of dollars in CASH!!! What an opportunity for only $6.00 ($1.00 for each of the first six people listed above) DIRECTIONS FOR HOW TO POST TO NEWS GROUPS!! STEP one: You do not need to retype this entire letter to do your own posting. Simply cut and paste. STEP two: Use Netscape or Internet explorer and try searching for various new groups (on- line forums, message boards, chat sites, discussions.) STEP three: Visit these message boards and post this article as a new message by pasting it. Fill in the subject and postit. You're done. You're done with your first one! Congratulations....THAT'S IT!! All you have to do is jump news groups and post away. *REMEMBER THE MORE NEWS GROUPS YOU POST IN, THE MORE MONEY YOU WILL MAKE!!! BUT YOU HAVE TO POST A MINIMUM OF 200* That's it!! You will begin receiving money from around the world within days!! *JUST MAKE SURE ALL ADDRESSES ARE CORRECT* Now the why part: Assume for example you get a 7.5% return, which is very conservative. 1) When you mail 200 letters, 15 people will send you $1.00 2) Those 15 mails out 200 letters, 225 people will mail you $1.00 3) Those 225 mails out 200 letters, 3,375 people will mail you $1.00 4) Those 3,375 mails out 200 letters, 50,625 people will mail you $1.00 5) Those 50,625 mails out 200 letters, 759,375 people will mail you $1.00 By now your name has dropped off the list, but so far you have received at least $759,375.00!! With an original investment of only $6.00!! AMAZING!! When your name is no longer on the list, you take the latest posting in the news groups, and send out another $6.00 to names on the list, putting your name at number 6 again. You have to remember and realize that thousands of people all over the world are joining the Internet and reading these articles every day, JUST LIKE YOU right now!!! People have said, "What if the plan is played out and no one sends you the money?" So what!!! What are the chances of that happening when there are tons of new honest people who are joining every day and are willing to give it a try? Remember, play FAIRLY AND HONESTLY and this will really work. more

Resolved Question: Want to start my own Landscaping Business But not sure how to do that?

I have been told by many that my work is very beautiful and that I should go into business for myself. I love to design yards and I feel I am very good at it. I have never had my own business before so I really don't even know where to start. Do I need a licence for this? When and If I did start do I pay for all the lawn design and then charge them for it afterwards? How much does ones usually charge for something like this? I know it cost me a pretty penny to do my own yard.LOL Plus all the time I had into it. I built my own ponds, bridges, flower pots, Large and small driftwood decor, painted what ever needed to be painted, had several decor water pumps running, Large stumps of wood for some of the water decor pumps to sit on. I halled in lava rocks, river rocks, large bolder rocks for design, many flower plants, wind chimes, tie kie torches, indoor outdoor rope lights that swirled through the ground plants, ground ornaments, ground lights, green viens through the back fencing,ect more

Resolved Question: I need to Start my own business? Need help please?

It'd be Exporting wood and a friend works in the wood industry and she asked me to help exporting it to her since i live in the Baltic area. what can i do and how can i get started.. I have never done any business before and i dont want to sound like a fool. help???? more

Resolved Question: How do I start a craft business using local materials and on a small budget?

I'm a fine arts graduate and presently I am doing some wood incision art work with the use of palo tsina . I also plan to sell some different kinds of basket ( utility, fruit, flower) made of local materials with unique design and accents more

Resolved Question: Am i on my way?

I am 15 and i have left some questions about acting. I have been in a fair few musicals in my local community such as, the sound of music, annie get your gun, scrooge, Into the woods and have done some backstage work. Ive been an extra in Mcleods daughters (although you didnt see me very much) and i have been in one big production in our school and smaller drama plays. I have auditioned for the role as Cosette in Led Miserables...although did not get the role. I play piano and can sing. Do you think i am on my way? Like if i keep doing auditions ect.?? I know alot of you will say its a hard business to get into which i know for sure...but is this how actors start? more

Resolved Question: How do I get a small business loan to start a wood-working shop.?

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